There is nothing more fun than working with your friends (as anyone at OC will tell you). And Paula Selby Avellaneda and Juan Hernandez Daels prove it's also a total creative win-win. The two Argentineans met while studying fashion design in Antwerp and this spring they launch their collaborative line, Fauna, exclusively at OC. Bringing together the free-form fairy tale shapes of Paula's individual project, House of Matching Colours, with Juan's taste for clean lines and monochrome, Fauna creates magical handmade dresses with a mean streak.
Shop all Fauna here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: How did you guys meet?
Fauna: We met for the first time at the Royal Academy in Antwerp and after a coffee we found out that our parents were actually neighbors in Buenos Aires! We were the only South Americans in the school at that time, so we had something in common from the start.
Was there an exact moment when you knew you wanted to work together?
Not an exact moment, but we always spoke about collaborating on something in the future. We helped each other out with our individual projects, so it was quite a natural decision to start a project together.
Can you sum up your aesthetic in three words?
Mystical handmade grunge
What does the name "Fauna" mean to you?
We liked the word Fauna because it's a civilized definition of something natural and wild.
What were your references for this collection?
The story is about a group of girls who hang out at the back of a mall in the middle of nowhere and wear hoodies over couture dresses. They are so far away from a "princesses and ball gowns" kind of life that they decide to wear whatever beautiful thing they can make. We mixed couture-like details with sporty, casual references and a lot of raw edges and worn-out seams.
All the pieces look so delicate. Can you tell us about the construction?
We make every garment in our atelier, one at a time and with lots of handmade details. We try to manipulate and modify all the fabrics to make them our own. We use seams and finishings that represent an intuitive construction rather than a traditional one.
Juan, what's the best thing about working with Paula?
Understanding her sensibility and the spontaneity she has with fabrics. She can turn a piece of fabric into a beautiful dress in a matter of seconds.
Paula, what's the best thing about working with Juan?
Juan's tailoring is really strong and it's very interesting to learn and follow his construction process. Plus, we both drink dangerous amounts of super black coffee so it's good that we can share.
Favorite thing to do together when you're not designing?
It feels like we are constantly working! But we do go out together with friends. Juan is also getting his motorcycle back soon and that will be amazing.
What's next for Fauna?
Our Fall/Winter 2013 collection is about a broken-hearted girl who resorts to witchcraft to get her lover back. Some looks are super dark and melancholic, and others are sexy, princess-cut dresses. She has jewelry to keep her magic potions in and a crown of nails!
Shop all Fauna here.
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Shop all Fauna here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: How did you guys meet?
Fauna: We met for the first time at the Royal Academy in Antwerp and after a coffee we found out that our parents were actually neighbors in Buenos Aires! We were the only South Americans in the school at that time, so we had something in common from the start.
Was there an exact moment when you knew you wanted to work together?
Not an exact moment, but we always spoke about collaborating on something in the future. We helped each other out with our individual projects, so it was quite a natural decision to start a project together.
Can you sum up your aesthetic in three words?
Mystical handmade grunge
What does the name "Fauna" mean to you?
We liked the word Fauna because it's a civilized definition of something natural and wild.
What were your references for this collection?
The story is about a group of girls who hang out at the back of a mall in the middle of nowhere and wear hoodies over couture dresses. They are so far away from a "princesses and ball gowns" kind of life that they decide to wear whatever beautiful thing they can make. We mixed couture-like details with sporty, casual references and a lot of raw edges and worn-out seams.
All the pieces look so delicate. Can you tell us about the construction?
We make every garment in our atelier, one at a time and with lots of handmade details. We try to manipulate and modify all the fabrics to make them our own. We use seams and finishings that represent an intuitive construction rather than a traditional one.
Juan, what's the best thing about working with Paula?
Understanding her sensibility and the spontaneity she has with fabrics. She can turn a piece of fabric into a beautiful dress in a matter of seconds.
Paula, what's the best thing about working with Juan?
Juan's tailoring is really strong and it's very interesting to learn and follow his construction process. Plus, we both drink dangerous amounts of super black coffee so it's good that we can share.
Favorite thing to do together when you're not designing?
It feels like we are constantly working! But we do go out together with friends. Juan is also getting his motorcycle back soon and that will be amazing.
What's next for Fauna?
Our Fall/Winter 2013 collection is about a broken-hearted girl who resorts to witchcraft to get her lover back. Some looks are super dark and melancholic, and others are sexy, princess-cut dresses. She has jewelry to keep her magic potions in and a crown of nails!
Shop all Fauna here.
