Rodarte is a design partnership of sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, founded in 2005. Both sisters attended UC Berkley - Kate majored in Art History with an emphasis on 19th and 20th Century art, whilst Laura focused her studies on Literature and the modern novel. After graduation, they both returned to their home in Pasadena, California where they formally launched Rodarte. After finding success with their first collection of 10 pieces in New York, they followed their first season with a 16 piece collection which won them the 2006 Eco Domani Fashion Foundation Award. Rodarte took part in the CFDA/VOGUE Fund, of which they were runners up and gained them a mentorship with Vice President of the Gucci Group and President to Balenciga, James McArthur. Rodarte were nominated for the CFDA Swarovki Womenswear Designer in 2006 and 2007 and won the award in 2008. They became members of the CFDA in 2007. Rodarte’s designs have been acquired by museums such as the FIT and the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Selected Awards

• CFDA Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year 2008

Selected Publications

• Borelli, Laird 'Fashion Illustrations by Fashion Designers' Chronicle Books, March 2008

Photo: Autumn de Wilde