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‘Clothing that fits perfectly does justice to every woman'
‘Fashion is our life,' says the American designer Kate Mulleavy (b. 1979) of Rodarte. However, she and her sister Laura (b. 1981) only opted for a career in fashion after studying English (Laura) and the history of art (Kate) at the University of California at Berkeley.
The first Rodarte collection was presented in 2005 during the New York Fashion Week and was awarded the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for a series of cocktail-like dresses with a subtle vintage touch that same year.
The sisters achieved immediate fame after one of their dreamy dresses appeared on the cover of Women's Wear Daily, a fashion trade journal. Since Anna Wintour of Vogue invited these young women to present their 10-part collection of elaborate couture, New York's entire fashion scene has understood what Rodarte stands for.
In no time, the refined, sculptural creations of Rodarte (the maiden name of the duo's mother) were hanging in retail Valhallas such as Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, and Browns in London. The cult star Dita Von Teese, actress Cate Blanchett and top model Karen Elson are just some of Rodarte's high-profile fans.