From “STAPLES” - our first capsule collection
As we pass the precarious 2nd year mark of our little custom-made journey, we once again find ourselves incredibly unable to fully express our gratitude for all the love and support you’ve given us, particularly through these difficult past months.
The uncertainties of 2020 have coaxed us into asking several questions of ourselves: What can we do differently now that meeting clients face-to-face is considered a luxury? How can we continue to take our love for menswear and adapt it for women who sometimes look to the men’s department for alternatives? What about men who want more interesting cuts? How can we redefine ‘interesting’? It felt as if I was back in the brainstorming months circa 2018, when I was still trying to decode 3EIGHTH’s DNA.
Some shots from when we made our debut in 2018 - we were all about classic menswear, with a boyish and more regular silhouette, made for everyone - her, him or everyone else in between.
And so, with just a little more self-assurance as compared to 2 years ago, we present to you our first capsule collection, STAPLES, ready to be ordered via our newly-launched webstore. This seems a small contribution considering the vast galaxy of online fashion, but for us it’s probably the biggest leap we’ve taken thus far. We wouldn’t have attempted this if we didn’t at least have an inkling of faith that you would resonate with our ideas and sensibilities.
Some of our custom designs for special projects on #3EIGHTHConversations was extremely focused on Classic Suitings and a mix of formal and casual mens’ shirtings and catered to the tastes and flavours of our collaborators.
I’ve never given much importance to the origins of my obsession with menswear, but there’s no denying its role in everything 3EIGHTH stands for. I’ve always loved the classic women’s dress, and still do, but toward my mid-20s I began questioning not only what this traditional form represented, but the facets of femininity that it could be missing out on. It seemed a right frame of questioning, but my response probably could’ve been better. I ended up feeling like dresses weren’t enough; like I wasn’t enough. Somehow, wearing men's clothes was like tucking into a safety blanket, one that secured my need at the time to not fit the cookie cutter standards of what women had to be.
A mood board combining men and women in menswear styles. I loved menswear of most iterations whether it was workwear, casual or tailored garments, especially the looser silhouettes.
Looking back, these pent-up frustrations at least partially fuelled the launching of 3EIGHTH. With our core mission to "put every girl in a suit", it was both a release and an act of rebellion. I’ve thus only begun to recognize not only the vastness of the fashion spectrum, but the depths of every mindset, each branching to and from their own ideas and reasoning. Everyone deserves a chance, and the facility, to be who they need to be, whether more feminine or menswear-leaning, formal or casual, suit or skirt; none of these should be binaries. I've learnt to embrace the confidence of looking different, but also another kind of assurance from ‘looking the same’, and it seems time to normalize alternatives to clothing that women can wear with comfort and confidence, sparing nothing in between.
To try and hone this all in, I'd say the collection is both an introspection into my journey and an output of alternatives that I hope more women might welcome into their wardrobes. It pays homage to the men's shirt styles that I love, and honestly, it's nothing crazy or fancy, with emphasis on the quiet and subtle while utilizing relaxed cuts for a comfortable fit that makes sense whichever day of the week, any time of the year.
The line-up includes a Camp-Collar Shirt, a Mandarin Popover and a Flute Sleeve Shirt in silhouettes that are more generously cut, with a focus on accessibility and movement. Relaxation and confidence come from a right headspace, and so it should be with apparel that acts as second skin. It will also be the first time we feature a Volume-pleat skirt in the styling of the collection. Of course, you’d expect no less with our classic Wide-legged trousers (which has been in our core-offerings) and finally, the addition of a Straight-cut Bermudas with just the right length we love. All skirts and bottoms will be available for the usual custom commissions by appointment too.
Styles are available in seven neutral colours, including Black, White, Denim, and other shades of darker blues. We've also included a limited-edition Cotton poplin in a bolder Ikat Print, available in three colour ways for a pop of fun and colour. I'm seeing this give way for more playful styling. A Matte Red version is also available, but I guess we’ll see how CNY plays out in the coming months. An updated mask prototype will also be produced from the off-cuts of our shirt production. Keep a lookout for it!
In the meantime, we’ll press forward as we always have, ever grateful that you’ve taken us this far.
Look forward to hearing from all of you x
With all my heart,
Sheryl
