Having a social conscience shouldn’t mean sacrificing style. And with the arrival of homegrown label, Sosume, being green has never looked so good.
Sosume is a collective of four young designers who collaborate between Melbourne, Sydney and New York.
Launching with a capsule collection of simple, yet refined, trans-seasonal women’s pieces in a pared-down colour palette of black, white and grey, Sosume designs feature only natural and organic fabrics.
Produced in Melbourne, Sosume sources the finest fabrics from the most environmentally-responsible mills internationally. The debut collection features micro modal, a fabric made from the European Beech Tree, requiring only a tenth of the water used in cotton production.
We asked one of the faces behind Sosume, Alex Trimmer, all about the brand:
B&L: What does Sosume mean?
Alex: Literally, Sosume is broken down to “so sue me”. Sosume was originally called something else and we later found out that there was another company with those naming rights in the US so we changed it. We couldn’t think of anything so I just said to myself, “so sue me!”
Sosume as a company, however, means something much deeper. We, as a collective, create garments that draw inspiration from all forms of design, in particular the visual arts and architecture. The collection produces a minimal and simplistic outcome with an accompanying colour palette of white through to black.
B&L: Why is organic so important to you?
Alex: The decision to use organic and natural fabrics was easy. We researched these types of fabrics for over six months, attending everything from fabric trade show conventions through to scientific seminars on fibre production. We found there is a decent supply of materials out there.
Everything from wood pulps to the certification of organic wool and even vegetarian silk is available. Basically, we’re showing that you don’t have change your habits in order to wear something that has a significantly reduced carbon footprint and is heavily design focused.
B&L: Tell us about the four different designers that make up Sosume.
Alex: Paulina Petkoski and Rachel Kozub are New York based and are currently attending their final year at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Paulina is studying Fashion Design and Rachel is studying Fabric Styling. Wil Fry attends Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney studying Design and I live in Melbourne and graduated from the ANU with a Bachelor’s in Commerce, majoring in Marketing.
We all contribute to the design process when we create a collection. As we like to design clothes that we want to wear, Paulina and Rachel work on the technical details of the women’s collection while Wil and I work on the men’s (next season).
B&L: How do the different locations of the designers affect the fashion you create?
Alex: Sometimes it can be difficult when we design a new collection; however, we usually meet up twice a year to create a collection and then alter it through detailed emails and joint video chats. Soon, we’ll all work together in one location. We just have to graduate first! The best part is the unique perspective each of us can contribute due to the various people and objects we come into contact with.
B&L: What is micro modal?
Alex: Micro modal is 100% beech tree wood pulp. Beech trees flourish throughout central and eastern Europe.
B&L: What kinds of pieces are in your collection?
Alex: Our debut women’s collection features tanks, loose tees, harem pants and some dresses. Micro modal is a very sheer and transparent fabric that allows the wearer to layer and create their own shapes and style.
B&L: Can we really be green and be fashionable?
Alex: Of course! Just wait and see for yourself!
B&L: What's next for the Sosume label?
Alex: Menswear! We are very excited about this! We are also introducing wovens as well as knits in an expanding array of interesting and unique fabrics from Milan and Tokyo. We will also be increasing the size of the autumn/winter collection to around 35-40 pieces and will also include a small number of accessories.
B&L: Where can we buy your collections?
Alex: Our online store has just opened! You can purchase the spring collection now and we will be adding our summer collection in the coming months.
We will have 13 stockists around Australia and most are located in the major cities and will be available from July. For a list, please visit our website, www.sosumeclothing.com
B&L: What does being green mean to you?
Alex: No one is perfect; no one can have a zero carbon footprint. To me, being green means having a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
We are simply showing you that there is no effort or drastic change that you have to make in order to help you move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
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