Come with Coco as we go behind the scenes with Nina Ergic and Dan Romanin, the Co-designers of One Fell Swoop, a premium Australian womenswear label.
Known for their precision drapery and proficient tailoring, get to know how the brand started, their design processes and inspiration behind their latest collection.
Can you tell us how the label started and the philosophy behind One Fell Swoop?
We began the label in February 2005. Nina and I first met while studying fashion and it was clear from the beginning with our European backgrounds, enthusiasm, and work ethic that we would be either fierce competitors or inspiring allies. We luckily fell into the latter and became closely linked creatively.
After finishing college, it was an obvious progression. We leased a little cottage in West Perth and began to diffuse our graduate collections into more accessible shapes.
From the beginning we were dedicated to our unique design practice, and to a local make. Every piece is draped on a mannequin; our shapes elevate the form of the body and accent the cloth.
One Fell Swoop creates dresses you wear, not dresses that wear you.
Our authenticity and dedication enable the wearer to indulge in themselves bringing to life their inner hedonist.
Due to our unique design process, our belief is the pieces we create are timeless keepsakes, effortless to wear for all women and that’s why we do see such a broad range of ages in our customer base, who continue to come back to us for those special occasions in their life.
More than just dressmaking we are sculpting forward thinking forms, an expression in cloth for our client’s modern life. Spontaneous and full of life, existing to enhance every experience our pieces are to create memories in.
We would love to understand your design process and where the garments are created? And could you share the inspiration behind this collection?
Opposed to seasonal inspiration we experiment with volume, form, shape, and fabric. Every piece begins as a single piece of cloth worked over a mannequin. With the use of draping techniques, sculpting and manipulation a form is created. This material formation is then refined into a complementing dress silhouette, detailing length, shape and finishings the shape becomes a fully designed garment made into calico. We call this a Toile.
Although the fabrication has been considered during the toiling process it is at this point that it becomes the focus the handle, weight, texture, and drape will all affect the fit. The Toile is unpicked, and the calico pieces are transferred to pattern card and meticulously labelled. The dress pattern has been made; it will now be cut in the selected fabrication and working closely with the seamstress made into a new garment.
they are not traditional in design, or conformist to trends, nor fast fashion to be consumed by the masses. Our ideas are as true today as when we began.
I believe our design process combines the historical with the modern, the theatrical with the austere and the organic with the structured. Making a completely unique shape that is exclusively One Fell Swoop.
All our Pieces are proudly designed and Made in Western Australia.
How long have you been working with Coco?
It all started with a drop of Erin dresses in 2014 and we have been working closely with Jess and the coco team ever since. Captured below by the West Australian!
Nina and I have both reflected on the journey of our partnership with Coco over the years and the change and growth it has enabled. The resulting friendship we have built with Jess and Travis is beyond business.
What is your favourite piece of the collection?
- Favourite Midi; Matilda Dress
- Favourite Mini; Josephine Mini
- Favourite Maxi; must be the Gaia
- Favourite Set; Cult Crop & Review Skirt
Does this collection include any new silhouettes?
- JULY, saw the introduction of many new silhouettes. We released the Chloe Dress, Cult Crop, Josephine Dress, Josephine Mini, Marni Dress, Matilda Dress, Review Skirt, Solange Mini, & Veronique Dress.
Our standout new fabrication in this month must be the Goldie!
- In AUGUST we re-envisaged our new July shapes in fresh fabrications. We also introduced the Deity Dress, Margo Mini, Marni Crop and Moni Mini.
This August drop sees a fringed fabrication introduced which has not been used before called Ivory Fringe, which we absolutely love!
