Blackburn + Sweetzer Has Moved

Looks from Maxine Dillon; click to expand

The second and final day of BoxEight was a bit rocky in regards to the collections that were presented.

Some of the more commercial lines were solid and pleasing to the eye: Hayley Starr’s concept of the versatile dress—you can wear one of her styles in more than 50 different ways—will be welcomed in the face of recession; Sahaja’s menswear was wearable and well constructed, but did not push the fashion envelope forward.

Maxine Dillon’s tailored, vintage inspired mini dresses, using strong patterns and rich turquoise to soften the predominant black and white, were the only exception; her collection had a point of view and was able to represent what LA design could stand for. It is no surprise that this label has been able to establish itself over the past few years and has garnered a loyal following.

In spite of the sometime questionable quality of the labels showing, the BoxEight endeavor was successful, and will hopefully continue to thrive and develop throughout the coming seasons. This group of artists is definitely much closer to capturing the indie spirit of LA’s fashion community than the polished presentation in Culver City has in the past.

Sahaja’s sharp hooded coat and quilted knees this way…

Looks from Sahaja; click to expand

— Photos and text by Christina von Messling

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