I know all Aussies reading this are very familiar with Cassette Society - stocked in all our beloved General Pants Co. stores, and so many boutiques nationally. I know I'm forever rifling through their stuff, and trying to decide whether I can get away with buying one thing without walking out and feeling like I should have bought everything else.
I got the change to get the lowdown on the goings on at Cassette Society with the fun-loving and very out there Katie.
Hi hi, how’s it going? Wicked witchly thanks...
To begin with, how did Cassette Society start out? Bloch International hired me to start the brand off as a cool sportswear brand worn on and off the dance floor, this was back in 2006, the rest is history.
Your latest collection, I have to say, is everything edgy and fun I’ve ever wanted in my wardrobe! Where did all your inspiration come from? Well, we were just starting to get into that whole tropical grunge vibe thats been coming on the last couple of months and it just seemed fitting to use this as a slight evolution from winter one - Why Can’t I Be You collection... where we were hugely influenced by movie ' Desperately seeking Susan'. Aka Madonna!! Woooooo. There is a black based floral story with punchy neon green rippling through it, an in excess ode to inxs rocker tee, and an electric blue stripe story (the stripe being a little erratic) ... and lotsa mini dresses, sequin cropped tees etc.
To begin with, how did Cassette Society start out? Bloch International hired me to start the brand off as a cool sportswear brand worn on and off the dance floor, this was back in 2006, the rest is history.
Your latest collection, I have to say, is everything edgy and fun I’ve ever wanted in my wardrobe! Where did all your inspiration come from? Well, we were just starting to get into that whole tropical grunge vibe thats been coming on the last couple of months and it just seemed fitting to use this as a slight evolution from winter one - Why Can’t I Be You collection... where we were hugely influenced by movie ' Desperately seeking Susan'. Aka Madonna!! Woooooo. There is a black based floral story with punchy neon green rippling through it, an in excess ode to inxs rocker tee, and an electric blue stripe story (the stripe being a little erratic) ... and lotsa mini dresses, sequin cropped tees etc.
What’s your favourite piece from this latest collection? Often the pieces that i get gaga over dont make it to production maybe due to the wackiness, so in saying that I love love love the Crimson Heat Fur Cropped Jacket [above] and I also love the Janie’s Got A Gun Mini Dress (this has subtle shoulder pads and fun little diagonally placed zippers [last]). The Thief Of Hearts Bodice Dress [below] is a winner too because you can wear it so many different ways: dress up or down. Wear a tee underneath etc.
What kind of work goes into developing one piece in a collection? A great deal... A4 page spec pack, plenty of fittings, a sampling process.
What would you describe as being the Cassette Society vibe? We like to think each of our garments have a mix of strong femme and pretty femme. So the combination of the 2 paradoxes combined equals voila... Cassette girl...
Who would you say is Cassette Society’s biggest style icon of the moment? There is no girl in particular because we like to cater for a variety of girls and most IT girls out there definitely have their own thing going on, but we definitely appreciate the dress code of Miss Fa' Empel. Indonesian Goddess....... HA yeah Fa' !!!
And what’s the biggest style trend you see coming through this year? So far it's definitely very tropical grunge... grunge gone troppo! New wave though of course.
What do you think if the new wave of fashion bloggers and street stylists coming through? I think it's great. Very interactive and resourceful and they're very dedicated to what they love doing. Its awesome.
Where do you see Cassette Society being in the next 5 years? World wide. Maybe a menswear component.... maybe another brand within our CS brand will sprout... the answers in the wind...
A random question from our last interviewee, Kim – designer of swimwear label, Kymare: Would you make the same decisions again? Depends what the decision was - we are constantly learning... sometimes we screw up and pay for it along the way - other times we get things right off the bat....
And finally, what’s a random question you’d like to ask our next interviewee? Do you feel lucky, well, do you, punk?
And finally, what’s a random question you’d like to ask our next interviewee? Do you feel lucky, well, do you, punk?
