Rodarte is on Depop
Laura and Kate Mulleavy made a splash in the late 2000s when their label Rodarte arrived on the American fashion scene. The sisters showed their first collection at New York Fashion Week in 2005 and quickly racked up a long list of celebrity fans. Known for the edgy romance of their runway collections – plus the cult ‘Radarte’ line of merch-style pieces – it wasn’t long before Rodarte was one of the hottest labels around for a certain kind of woman.
Over the years the Mulleavy sisters have turned that off-kilter femininity into their signature. Rodarte’s famous fans - think Rihanna, Cate Blanchett and Michelle Obama - prove the enduring appeal of the brand. And for the Spring 2020 collection, they teamed up with a host of their inspiring muses for a star-studded celebrity lookbook. And next? They’re coming to Depop with a mix of archive pieces, samples and that must-have ‘Radarte’ merch. Kate and Laura tell us all about their career, their inspiration and more.
Describe the Rodarte vibe in 3 words.
Rodarte: Romantic, Storytelling, Ethereal
Radarte: Lifestyle, California, Rad
Name the most iconic moment from your career.
Creating the ballet costumes for Black Swan and directing and writing our first feature film, 'WOODSHOCK'.
What role does California play in your work?
We grew up in California, the landscape has always inspired us. In 2008, we thought it would be fun to make a collection of sweatshirts and t-shirts that combined our brand name Rodarte with the word Rad, which was the go to word to use for anything we loved as kids. The idea of making a lifestyle collection that captures our childhood experiences in the forest, at the beach, and in the sunshine, was natural.
What do you like about shopping vintage fashion? Does it influence how you design your collections?
We love vintage fashions: what we appreciate most is the level of craftsmanship, artistry and care put into the garments.
What do you find inspiring about the future of fashion?
It’s always changing and inspiring. New voices and talent move things forward and that is exciting.