Extra-Terrestrial Interactions: Designer Phoenix Keating
Phoenix Keating, like his name suggests, is half mythical beast, half political dynasty and an all-round diabolical genius. Having debuted at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Phoenix has been making heads turn all around the fashion world with his avant-garde designs, unconquerable style sensibility and an ability to embrace the eleganza! But after sitting down and having a chat with him at his new Elizabeth Street studio, it is comforting to know that this pioneering fashion prodigy is just a designer with a dream. He’s like Bob Mackie but he’s dressing Lady Gaga instead of Cher.
Phoenix’s latest collection, Humanoid SS2014, draws from aliens and spaghetti Westerns – and what has become a trademark of Phoenix’s work, tells a story that transcends traditional style. Just to give you an example, here’s how he described the story of Humanoid:
“Humanoid is a story of an alien who fell to the desert, and wanted to learn how humans talk and interact with each other. Of course she’s an alien, so she can’t just go to human society so she watches a whole lot of old Westerns and falls in love with Clint Eastwood & other Western greats. She’s tried to dress like they do in Westerns, but she’s an alien, so she hasn’t got it quite right yet. And that’s where Humanoid comes from.”
So you can tell Phoenix is as charismatic as his clothes, and coming from a small workspace at his grandparent’s place to presenting at MBFWA and dressing Lady Gaga has set the benchmark pretty high for the next generation of fashion designers. Speaking of awesome accessories, Phoenix Keating has expanded his couture creations to include awesome accessories in collaboration with renowned jeweller Peter Lang that can appease both stylistas and the fashion-conscious alike.
Phoenix’s strength is his ability to draw inspiration from the bizarre and the bland and re-create these inspirations into works of wearable art. He designs for the woman who is “bold, beautiful yet unyielding” and this shows in his classical textiles paired with strong shoulders and alien-like silhouettes. Phoenix is still a Sydney-sider at heart, and enjoys grabbing a cup of coffee at his grandparent’s house in Bellevue Hill – which is so adorable it’s gross.
Phoenix’s future is definitely an exciting one, as he prepares for his next collection and presentation at MBFWA next year. And just to give you a little glimpse of what to expect: he lists the inspirations for his next collection as “Vaudeville and Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack to Inception.” What can I say, Phoenix has a creative mind that’s as sharp as his sewing skills and is a reminder to find beauty in the bizarre, and the treasure in the terrestrial.
Phoenix’s creations are available at Estate of Mind and are definitely worth checking out!
- Samuel Millsom
Phoenix’s latest collection, Humanoid SS2014, draws from aliens and spaghetti Westerns – and what has become a trademark of Phoenix’s work, tells a story that transcends traditional style. Just to give you an example, here’s how he described the story of Humanoid:
“Humanoid is a story of an alien who fell to the desert, and wanted to learn how humans talk and interact with each other. Of course she’s an alien, so she can’t just go to human society so she watches a whole lot of old Westerns and falls in love with Clint Eastwood & other Western greats. She’s tried to dress like they do in Westerns, but she’s an alien, so she hasn’t got it quite right yet. And that’s where Humanoid comes from.”
So you can tell Phoenix is as charismatic as his clothes, and coming from a small workspace at his grandparent’s place to presenting at MBFWA and dressing Lady Gaga has set the benchmark pretty high for the next generation of fashion designers. Speaking of awesome accessories, Phoenix Keating has expanded his couture creations to include awesome accessories in collaboration with renowned jeweller Peter Lang that can appease both stylistas and the fashion-conscious alike.
Phoenix’s strength is his ability to draw inspiration from the bizarre and the bland and re-create these inspirations into works of wearable art. He designs for the woman who is “bold, beautiful yet unyielding” and this shows in his classical textiles paired with strong shoulders and alien-like silhouettes. Phoenix is still a Sydney-sider at heart, and enjoys grabbing a cup of coffee at his grandparent’s house in Bellevue Hill – which is so adorable it’s gross.
Phoenix’s future is definitely an exciting one, as he prepares for his next collection and presentation at MBFWA next year. And just to give you a little glimpse of what to expect: he lists the inspirations for his next collection as “Vaudeville and Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack to Inception.” What can I say, Phoenix has a creative mind that’s as sharp as his sewing skills and is a reminder to find beauty in the bizarre, and the treasure in the terrestrial.
Phoenix’s creations are available at Estate of Mind and are definitely worth checking out!
- Samuel Millsom
