We’ve all had our own clothing fantasies: being lavished only in the finest of fabrics and organic fibers or wearing highly-detailed garments, made from planet–friendly dyes. The Oda founders have managed to make our clothing dreams a reality.
Sisters Angie Kim and Maggie Kim met Mandalyn Begay as undergraduates studying at Dartmouth College. Later, studying at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, the three women created their fashion company, Oda. Their newest collection for spring/summer, titled Castle in the Clouds, is an “ode to the dreamer.”
The collection, influenced by Oda founders’ love of art, fashion, history, and nature, appears to draw inspiration from fairy tales, including such archetypal characters as the brave warrior and the evil mistress. Each of the featured looks, made from environmentally sustainable materials, embodies classic fairy tale themes like dark versus light and the good versus evil. The pieces, though fantastical, take form in modern-day apparel that women (and men) can wear both day and night.
Cliché: What inspired this collection?
Angie Kim, Maggie Kim, and Mandalyn Begay: We were inspired by a few different elements. One was old school candy that we all love to eat late at night while working, things like Fun Dip, Nerds, Lemon Heads, and Starbursts from when we were kids. We were also inspired by the circus and some of the darker, dreamier elements. Lastly, we were inspired by the trio of books Sabriel, Liriel, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix about a necromancer who can raise the dead by playing a bandolier of bells.
What are some favorite pieces?
We love the Forgotten Kisses meringue dress (the white asymmetrical dress), and the bubblegum pink frothy dress.
What do you hope for in this collection?
We hope it brings a smile to people’s faces, and we hope they buy this collection.
Anything interesting you can tell us about the collection or one of the pieces that we wouldn’t know?
All of the colors were hand-dyed, usually at least 5-6 times to get the colors right, and often in small strips of fabric individually dip-dyed or squeeze-dyed. On the Forgotten Kisses meringue dress, we burned over 100 yards of silk gauze to get the “meringued” look on the edges of the ruffles.
Just like a dream, the pieces in the collection will be gone before you know it—they are only available for a limited time! So before this dream slips away, take a look at the collection, splurge a little, and create a story all your own. Any of the pieces can be purchased from Odafashion.com. For wholesale orders, contact [email protected].
Photographs for Oda’s Castle in the Clouds Collection by Sarah Kehoe.
