Designer DETAIL - Skin and Threads

Simple, easy yet stylish – Skin and Threads recognises the beauty in simplicity.

Sharing a vision to create modern, polished basics for those who value style, quality and the environment, first time designers Penelope Cohen and Emma Gathercole quickly recognised an opportunity to do what many designers don’t – to integrate the fashionista’s progressive lifestyle choices into simple, stylish fashion.

“Skin and Threads was a more an extension of lifestyle than the creation of a fashion label. What Skin and Threads aims to achieve is to create fashion with an eco-friendly slant so that when purchasing, our customers don’t take a slice of the environment with them,” Emma says.

With an understanding of natural materials and processes, Skin and Threads works fine merino knits, sheer baby cotton and organic cotton into a range of shapes and styles, all of which offer something unique in both aesthetic and principle.

And with the first collection selling out in the cult boutique Fat in the first weekend of delivery, we think this Melbourne duo are just what the environmentally conscious fashion pack ordered.

The making of S&T

Penelope and Emma met whilst studying at RMIT University in Melbourne. Penelope had previously completed a Bachelor of Commerce/Arts at Melbourne University and Emma had obtained a Bachelor of Arts.

“Penelope’s path took her from studying, to working as an investment banker, to yearning for something more creative. She soon found herself recruited to the position of buyer for Mecca Cosmetica, bringing a range of international brands to Australia. I finished my studies and went on to work as Marketing/Sales Manager for a leading fashion label, a role which led me to initiate, develop and implement the business strategy to move the brand into international distribution,” Emma says.

The S&T girl is…

“We appeal to any woman who enjoys wearing simple, easy yet stylish separates, who enjoy clean lines and simple detailing in an array of colours make the garments the ideal wardrobe staples that can be worn as separates or layered together,” Emma says.

‘Boy Pretty’

Skin and Threads’ new Spring/Summer collection “Boy Pretty” was “inspired by a vintage kaleidoscope I stumbled across in a Parisian market,” says Penelope. “Its all about intense colours with a boy-eske silhouette, with fresh mini dresses and rolled sleeved tees meet preppy shirt dresses, evoking a tomboy cool with a hint of the sweet and girly.”

Worth waiting for

“Our winter collection for 2008, which features prints for the first time. The prints are all variations on a bird theme overlaid on our organic jersey producing a fresh natural look for winter,” Emma says.

For more information on this label or to find a complete list of stockists, visit www.skinandthreads.com