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“Style is a way for you to say who you are without having to speak.” – Rachel Zoe.
We love this quote from this iconic stylist. At Brenda Muir, we’re always seeking brands that speak the language and enable our customers to express themselves fully – Alquema is one such brand.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, you’ll find many Alquema pieces in our store.
Loved by our customers and team for their bold use of colour, pattern, and shape, let’s explore what makes this brand so popular.
While Alquema blossomed in the bustling city of Sydney, on Australia’s sun-baked west coast, the seeds from which it grew were collected from around the world by its founder, Virginia Rouse.
Before heading up an internationally recognised fashion house, Rouse was a globetrotting photographer and film-maker. A role that, particularly in the world of fashion, allows for the appreciation of eye-catching forms and textures.
Taking every new location as an opportunity to soak in inspiration, Rouse’s keen eye for visually stimulating design eventually led her to Japan.
Finding herself particularly moved by the country’s practice of Shibori, a dyeing technique that manipulates fabric to create striking and unique patterns, Rouse would go on to channel this approach into her work.
Inspired by women who ‘cross continents, cultures, and boundaries’, Alquema is the result of Rouse channelling those immersive travel experiences into each fold and piece of fabric the brand produces.
Indeed, the influence of Shibori and Rouse’s adoration of texture is on full display throughout the range. Alquema aims to produce clothing informed by the wearer’s needs, providing elegance and versatility for a range of occasions.
While Alquema’s commitment to striking looks is evident in their clothing, the brand has also made efforts to exceed expectations in other areas of their business.
This is typified by their collaboration with Loopcreative to make a custom-made radial steel clothing rack for Alquema’s Sydney store.
Inspired by the mathematical ‘golden ratio’, the rack is a showstopping feature of the store, and perfectly mirrors the brand’s commitment to striking forms.
Now that we understand more of the theory that drives Alquema, we can take the time to appreciate what this looks like in practice.
Starting with the Estrella Dress in Blue Topaz, it perfectly exhibits the signature folds that are an Alquema signature. With a masterful blend of smoky, icy tones of blue and grey, this dress is cut to accentuate the wearer’s figure perfectly.
While this piece could easily be worn on an evening outing, its lightweight fabric makes it a perfect choice for those with a busy day ahead who still want to bring some panache to proceedings.
Elevating things a little further still is the Collare Coat in Pink Roses. Beautifully patterned, with a mix of rich reds, heady pinks, and chunky black lines, this coat’s boldness is hard to match.
While each Alquema piece at Brenda Muir deserves its own spotlight, we feel these incredible dresses and coats need to be experienced first-hand to be truly believed, but don’t expect to leave without one if you do!
To find out more or to visit our store, visit our website.
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