The brand, the designer, the latex
I've followed Eustratia for a number of years. In fact me and Stacey (founder, designer, creative director, general wonder woman) discussed an internship around 3 years ago. Although I was aware of Stacey's amazing creations, working with or even wearing latex was something completely new to me but something I had been intrigued by. For those of you who arn't familiar with Eustratia...
Model: Kelly Image: Winterwolf Studios
Eustratia specialises in latex clothing, although have recently released fabric range. All items are handmade in the UK using quality materials to create visually stunning pieces which you won't find else where. Stacey's creative vision really shines through in her work with her unique designs, drawing inspiration from both the past and future.
"I'm interested in creating beautiful items that transcend the fashion/fetish/costume/art labels and satisfy me creatively, while also appealing to others and becoming items to cherish and wear with pride for years to come. I enjoy trends and fashion but I prefer clothes that are versatile and can be carried forward from season to season, I therefore aim to achieve a unique but timeless quality within my work...
Model: Biomechanina Image: Aesthetic Contradiction
From working with Stacey, I have personally begun to see latex in a whole new way. Latex clothing is often associated with the fetish scene, but Eustratia shows how there is so much more to it. In recent times, latex has been seen much more in popular media, with celebrity fans such as Lady Gaga, Daisy Lowe and Kylie and designers such as Burberry featuring it in their A/W 13 collection. Across the Eustratia collections there is a combination of show stopping pieces that make an impact and pieces which are extremely wearable, my current favourite being the swing skirt.
Image: Rik Ayres Photography
I believe that it is a truly wearable fabric and have enjoyed incorporating latex into my everyday wardrobe, especially with accessories, as well as wearing full outfits for shows and events. It is surprisingly flattering, pulling you in in all the places you want it to. With pieces such as the swing skirt, I find it drapes beautifully, much better than fabric and pvc versions I have seen.
Aside from latex, Eustratia also offers a jewellery range, making it easier to get a little bit of Eustratia into your outfit. I will cover the jewellery range (and the part I played in it) as well as the new fabric range in more detail in a future post.
Not only from a design point of view but also from a business perspective I have found Stacey to be a huge inspiration. She set up Eustratia in 2011 and the brand continues to go from strength to strength, with shows at the German Fetish Ball, Manchester Fashion Week and the upcoming Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition at Event City to name but a few, as well as studio days and open house events. Stacey's work ethos really shows through in the results she achieves. I've never known anyone to work so hard and so much, I'm not entirely sure she's human.
You can have a look at Eustratia's fabulous collections here, follow on Facebook and keep up to date with Stacey's blog here.
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