After 27 years, Easton Pearson has bowed out of the sector. Alison Kubler looks back at the history of the brand.
Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson first met in 1977 through friends in their hometown, Brisbane.
At the time, Brisbane was a sleepy place, which often meant that fun would not so much present itself, but rather need to be created.
Before starting their design partnership, both Easton and Pearson spent time working in the fashion industry.
Easton worked for Sportsgirl in Brisbane as Merchandise Manager and State Manager before moving to Melbourne to work at their Head Office as a buyer.
After a decade, Easton decided to return to Brisbane to start her own label. During this time Pearson established her label Lydia Pearson Atelier in 1980 and opened a store in the Brisbane Arcade in 1986.
In 1988 both friends wrote respective lists of their aspirations, the results were almost identical and so Easton and Pearson formally started their design partnership in 1989 under the brand Bow and Arrow by Easton Pearson. Oh! by Easton Pearson followed a couple of years later.
The brands were then amalgamated to Easton Pearson, which grew to incorporate Easton Pearson linen.
A quarter of a century in business is a significant achievement in uncertain times.
The brand’s longevity can be attributed to its dedication to fashion as opposed to trends. Easton Pearson make clothes for all time, as opposed to a single season. They value slow construction over fast consumption.
Theirs is a design aesthetic that champions authenticity. They make clothing with intellect and wit.
Meticulous attention is paid to each collection, often referencing the designers’ travels, love of art, literature and the interesting characters that populate their creative life.
Easton Pearson’s collections are characterised by their intelligent, thoughtful, and often quirky, approach to clothing and fashion. Their use of pattern, print and embellishment is a recognizable aesthetic.
A disinterest in following trends of the moment means that each piece has a sense of longevity, earning a permanent position in the wearer’s wardrobe.
THE BACKGROUND STORY
Easton Pearson is an iconic part of Australian fashion history. Within nine years of inception the label showed at Paris Fashion Week and as of March 2014 Easton Pearson entered its 25th year of operation.
In 2009 a retrospective of Easton Pearson's work was to be the first fashion design exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art. Displayed across four rooms and featuring more than 70 outfits, the exhibition explored and celebrated Easton Pearson's unique artistic and creative design processes.
For Australian Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival 2013 in Sydney, Easton Pearson was selected as just the second Australian designer to receive the globally recognised honour of Mercedes-Benz Presents.
Easton Pearson has produced three collections annually for both the main brand, and recently also for Take Away by Easton Pearson -- a collection of unique resort wear perfect for a warmer climate, or of course, a holiday.
Take Away by Easton Pearson has its own personality and ideology and continues to define a unique presence in the marketplace.
Easton Pearson currently has two stand alone locations; boutiques on James Street, Brisbane and Oxford Street, Sydney.
The label has had a long standing presence in David Jones Australian Designer, and has been stocked in some of the finest stores nationally and internationally, as well as online at eastonpearson.com and matchesfashion.com.
BACKGROUND AND DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Pamela and Lydia's way of working is inseparable from their design philosophy.
They work in partnership through all passages of the process: planning, designing, finishing, traveling and selling.
Personal connections are at the heart of their creative process and are essential to the way Pamela and Lydia design. Often they will find themselves designing for people they know or admire.
Essential to the working method is Pamela and Lydia's approach to textiles.
Rarely will they purchase existing fabrics but rather work meticulously using many processes of experimentation to develop their own cloths and prints.
For the past 20 years Pamela and Lydia have worked closely with a number of artisans locally, as well as in India, Vietnam and Hong Kong to create the Easton Pearson textiles and prints.
Intimate attention is paid to all aspects of the making process of an Easton Pearson garment.
The sensuality of fabric against skin, predominate use of natural fibres, attention to how the textures feel, how the seams are finished, and how the fasteners might be touched are all important.
Pamela and Lydia note their interests as being specific yet eclectic.
They design for a woman who is quite possibly as interested in art as much as fashion, interested in details and in visual plays.
The designers don't stand away from trends but interpret these trends a little differently, a little idiosyncratically, a little privately based on their own interests.
There are many things that remain intriguing, exciting and unique about Easton Pearson and the very talented yet humble designers behind the namesake label.
It is the rare ability to remain contemporary yet transcend age driven design; the way the brand appeals to a broad audience but still manages to remain niche;it is the way that each collection is as much a futuristic take on current taste as it is a nod to the rich history that continues to cement Easton Pearson as one of Australia’s most iconic labels.
BIOGRAPHY
2014
Solo show at IMA for James St 'resort ' event
2014
Easton Pearson Brand showcased in India , supported by Australian High Commission
2014
Easton Pearson presented at Lakme Fashion week, India.
Recognition and Awards
2013
Mercedes Benz presents Chosen Designer
2011
Instyle Women of Style Award for fashion
Marie Claire Prix de Marie Claire
2010
Invited to show installation for Arts Qld at Shanghai Expo . Catalogue reproduced with Mandarin insert.
2010
AFW Fashion Laureate
2009
Major Easton Pearson retrospective exhibition at Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) Brisbane, Exhibition catalogue curated by Miranda Wallace
2007
National Retailers Association Award for Excellence in Fashion
2006
Premiers Special Export Award
Dermot McManus Award for Innovation in Export
2006
Melbourne fashion Festival solo show
2005
Selected by David Jones for runway finale
2005
Solo Exhibition and catalogue Doha University, Middle East.
1997
Debut Mercedes Australian Fashion Week group show in Sydney. Subsequent group show in 1998, Joan Burnstein of Browns London and Joyce Ma of Joyce Hong Kong both bought the collection. Solo shows in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 ,2008, 2013.
1997
First presentation in Paris. Sold to many international stores including Bergdorf Goodman NY, L'Eclaireur Paris, stores in Japan, Italy, Russia and Middle East.