Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
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Curated Fashion Brand Profile: Elevate + Collide

 

Elevate & Collide is an incredibly awesome, industrial-yet-so-wearable clothing line for women based out of Pasadena, California. Designer/owner Susan Brunet, the hard-working lady behind the operation, gives us the scoop on the decision-making behind her pieces and how she keeps things edgy in the city with a pair of badass boots…

Check out these pieces carried at Art In The Age from Elevate & Collide:

Nopi Jacket…

Audrey Top…

Jerry Vest…

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Pick 3 words to describe your line…

Modern-city-sophisticated

How Elevate & Collide began:

I always wanted to start something of my own and one day I was sitting behind a desk, and I just made the decision. As a designer I really wanted to do what I wanted to do. When you get a paycheck from some else its rarely your say. I wanted to change that. I’m no desk junky!

Criteria for materials selection:

Materials we use must be awesome! Heavy, real, I like to feel a weight and size behind the fabric and trim. On the other hand, I feel luxury behind thin and delicate silks and knits. So, that’s contradictory I know.  

A challenge that you/Elevate & Collide overcame:

The line its self has never had any challenge being accepted and liked. It is easy to appreciate. We’ve had such a great response. But, the slow economy has really caused us to slow down from growing  We would like to promote more, be out there more, push more. There just isn’t a way to do that right now. I don’t fear us evaporating, but certainly being small for a while longer.

Favorite part about your job:

My absolute favorite part of my job is seeing something that has gone from my brain bubble to my sketch pad, to my email, to a factory, to ups, to me. When I open the box and see the garment I always get so excited! Its different than making it here, and knowing the out come. Tougher designs must be developed overseas where they have the capability. My little studio can’t handle the shenanigans I come up with sometimes.

Tell us one secret or “little-known-fact” about you or your line.

Secret!  How could you ask that?!  Haahahha, ok…

We are a bunch of wine lovers and like to stay late and pop a bottle of wine and sit around and chat. We really don’t ever leave. But, I love that.

How would YOU wear/pair your clothing?

The dresses I personally wear with high boots, or military style boots. I always wear the blouses and jackets with jeans. Usually with high boots too, pants tucked in.  For me I prefer to make it edgy and aggressive. I’m always walking around LA, I don’t want anyone taking advantage.  

What is your response to this passage from “The Work of Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction” (Walter Benjamin, 1936), as it relates to your brand story/philosophy?

An analysis of art in the age of mechanical reproduction…leads us to an all-important insight: for the first time in world history, mechanical reproduction emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on ritual. To 
an ever greater degree the work of art reproduced becomes the work of art designed for reproducibility.

I don’t design for the maximum amount of consumers. I am able to stay true to my unique design and nature and allow a small percentage of people to become part of that process.  I agree with it however,  there are a lot of people out there. Everybody needs some art, even if it is over manufactured!  What else would we look at in a cheap hotel?

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Thank you, Susan, for sharing your libation secrets with us, and for your fearless and feisty clothing line. It is an honor and an inspiration to carry Elevate & Collide.