
What do a couple of flea market finds and American costumer Gilbert Adrian have in common? Both served as inspiration in the creation of the most recent Design Lab Collection: Cubist Tryst.
When Christina, owner of Substance, spotted the ruby red suede shifts at a NYC flea market, she recognized potential in the beautiful material and in their classic a-line silhouettes. To bring new life to these forgotten treasures, she turned to Sarah Ivancic, fiber artist, costumer extraordinaire and a designer of past Design Lab collections.
Sarah holds a BFA in Fiber with a concentration in Experimental Fashion from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Primarily focused on exploring through fashion the ways in which cultural and material constructs interact, Sarah was a perfect fit the project. Sarah’s skillful hands have brought new life to found materials, imbuing them with a purposeful abstraction and constructed with the female form and the concept of femininity in mind.
The dress that served as inspiration for the collection was created by Gilbert Adrian in 1944 for his wife, actress Janet Gaynor. Adrian incorporated elements of Cubism in his work, arranging the fabric in abstract shapes and patterns, playing with color blocking and creating looks that were stunning in their originality and whimsy.
Sarah has done just that with Cubist Tryst. The ruby shifts are reborn — deconstructed, analyzed and created anew as pieces of wearable art. Planes of suede are abruptly interrupted by contrasting fields of a soft linen/cotton blend, in forms that echo the original Adrian. We love these fun and unique frocks paired with tights and boots.
Serving as a beautiful accompaniment to our Cubist Tryst frocks or your existing wardrobe, the belts created for this collection play on the motif of contrasting elements and imaginative construction. Tie them at the waist to create an hourglass silhouette, or slide through belt loops to add an unexpected detail to your favorite jeans. Each belt is a one of a kind piece — just the thing to add a touch of artistry to your wardrobe.








