By Keeva Stratton
Created by friends Deborah Sams and Mary-Lou Ryan, Bassike, who were originally known for their luxury organic jersey creations, have now expanded further into stylish casual wear creations of denim and more.
Confirming the level of interest now surrounding them was a packed Cargo Theatre at the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week that had a keenly observant front row – which included Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank and former Australian model-turned-actress Annalise Braakensiek.
Guests at the show were greeted with a complimentary pair of thongs, which could have lead you to believe that casual would be the call of the day, but the Bassike collection was far from it, presenting instead a series of interesting and at times quite sophisticated designs that are testament to the evolution of the brand.
Both male and female models were called upon to present a series of knitted creations that ranged from oversized tops to intricately woven dresses, which used a varied colour palette to add further dimension.
Following the wool-wear was a range of denim combinations that evoked memories of the eighties, and thereafter a bold series of striped blouses, tops and jackets that took the recent French Riviera revival to a new level of shape and chic. Demonstrating their skill in design was the clever use of a bird wing print to create a selection of men’s tops and women’s dresses that were simple yet remarkably attractive to the eye.
While the thongs may have risked a misstep, it was a sweet reminder of the essence of the brand. The Bassike show was short, but punchy – packed with very desirable pieces that demonstrate the positive direction the brand’s extension is moving towards. Today we got but a small taste, but no doubt we can expect to hear a lot more about this evolving brand in the very near future.
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