Biography
Kate and Laura Mulleavy are the Los Angeles-based duo behind fashion brand Rodarte, which they debuted to critical acclaim in 2005. They have been honoured with the CFDA’s Emerging Womenswear Designer award and the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, among other accolades.
The Mulleavys began designing on their parents’ kitchen table in Pasadena, California, where, with no formal training, they started to develop their ethereal, conceptual womenswear. The pair, who employ couture-like techniques, have come under fire for not considering the commercial aspects of their work, but told Time magazine, “We are very artistic. We’ll always take the artistic choice over the non-artistic decision. But everyday you’re dealing with the business side — it’s never removed. There’s no bubble you can live in and act like you can do this without running a business."
With an eye for dramatic creations that blur the line between fashion and art, they have created costumes for Oscar Academy Award-winning film "Black Swan" (2010) and various opera productions. They have also staged several exhibitions at sites including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and designed for Target.