…The making of ‘Dawn Of A New Age’

IT STARTS WITH INSPIRATION; A SLEEVE, A HARDENED LOOK,  CONFRONTATION IN HER EYES, A SKIRT THAT SNAGS THE WOOD FLOOR AS SHE GOES.. THEN YOU PUT THOSE THOUGHTS AND VISIONS DOWN ON PAPER, GRAB A PENCIL WITH A GOOD ERASER, PUT THE MUSIC ON, LIGHT THE CANDLES, POUR THE WINE, GET INTO A GOOD SPACE WITH YOURSELF AND AWAY YOU GO. IT’S CREATING WHAT YOU WANT TO WEAR, WHAT YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE THE BALLS TO WEAR, WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE THEM IN…PROUD AS HELL AS THEY MAKE THE WALK.

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WE BEGAN DESIGNING ‘THE DAWN OF A NEW AGE’ COLLECTION WAYYY WAYYY BACK IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR. THIS COLLECTION WAS ALL HEART, WITH PLENTY OF RE-DRAFTING, DOUBT, AND RISK. ARTISTICALLY WE WERE INSPIRED BY THE DEFIANCE ILLUMINATED BY THIS GENERATION IN THE LAST YEAR. WOMEN HAVE BEEN CUTTING THEIR HAIR, HITTING THE STREETS WITH BOOTS AND SIGNS, AND EXPERIENCING A BURST OF POWER THAT THEY, AND NONE, HAS EVER SEEN EXCEED THIS FAR IN ALL OF OUR HISTORY. IN THE DEPTH OF SUCH A MOMENT, WE WANTED THE PIECES TO FEATURE LOTS OF SEAMS, TEXTURES, AND ADD-ONS TO TAKE ON A SPIRIT OF ARMOR AND PRIDE. IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST TIME WE GOT TO PRODUCE AND DESIGN THE CLOTHE OURSELVES; CHOOSING THICK ROPE TRIMS, BRASS SEQUINS, BOLD LACE APPLICATE, PEARLED BUTTONS, AND PLEATING. EACH PIECE WAS SCRUTINIZED FOR FIT, EXAMINING EVERY SQUARE INCH WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB, WITH SOME GOWNS GOING THROUGH UP TO 7 REVISIONS THROUGHOUT THE TEN MONTH PROCESS. WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US TO LEAD A LIFE BEYOND WHAT IS SHOWN OR KNOWN. IT SEEMS THAT DEVOTION HAS ONLY BEEN FURTHER REINFORCED IN THE LAST YEAR. THE FUTURE IS OURS TO CHANGE, TO CREATE, AND TO FORCE THROUGH. DAUGHTERS OF SIMONE IS ALL ABOUT THAT.
-ASH & BRIT CASTANOS