Josh Bozin
On Wednesday evening, one of the most anticipated shows of the Sydney #MBFWA calendar was unveiled, as guests were invited to an intimate viewing of ‘The United Colours of Rainbouu’ – the latest collection from Sydney’s eccentric Double Rainbouu, in conjunction with Peroni.
The who’s who of Sydney’s fashion scene were present, as guests were guided on an immersive journey through the majestic Chinese Gardens of Friendship, revelling in Double Rainbouu’s latest collection of beachwear/vacation styles intended for everyday life.
“Double Rainbouu offers a different perspective to beach lifestyle and vacation/resort labels that tend to peddle an aspirational, tumblrised idea of paradise; Double Rainbouu represents all the beaches and all the people,” says design duo Mikey Nolan and Toby Jones.
“As Australians, we have a unique relationship with the beach. It’s really ingrained in everyday life, as opposed to other parts of the world where the beach is a place you visit on holidays. This is an important aspect of our brand – it’s beachwear but for everyday life.
Double Rainbouu was founded on the back of vintage Hawaiian shirts gone wrong, with Nolan and Jones looking to reinvigorate the space of vintage, printed garments.
“We were overseas in Bangkok looking for ideas for new brands and happened to find ourselves in a Bangkok market amongst a sea of bad vintage Hawaiian shirts. We thought, there must be space for a new take on the printed shirts,” says Nolan & Jones.
“Six months later, we launched a small capsule of five printed shirts and it’s really just taken off from there.”
It seems they were on to something, with Double Rainbouu, since its inception, receiving a number of awards including GQ’s Breakthrough Fashion Brand of the Year in 2018. It’s through these accolades, hard work and a winning design model that has planted Double Rainbouu at the forefront of men’s casual fashion in Australia.
“The awards we have received are great as they are an acknowledgment of how much hard work goes into building a brand from the beginning,” explains Nolan & Jones.
“With a small industry in Australia, it’s important for the community to support each other wherever possible. We’ve been really grateful for the exposure the award [GQ] has given us in the wider public.”
The United Colours of Rainbouu collection featured a colour palette that is darker in nature; different from what the brand has designed to date. Playing on the notion of wearing its garments at night, the Hawaiian shirt vibes are replaced with party shirts that throwback to the ’50s.
“With our latest collection, prints and colour palette are a little darker and moody. As a move on from the Hawaiian shirt, we’re pushing evening shirts as the PM party shirt,” says Nolan & Jones.
“We also have mesh shirting in a ’50s retro styling that is good for a guy who wants a break from print. Head-to-toe towelling looks for out of the surf (or shower) practicality, and leisurely linen in utility styling.”
As the major sponsor, Peroni continued the party well into the evening with a dedicated Peroni Bar stocked full of ice-cold birre. Guests mingled with a Peroni in-hand, showcasing the brand’s newest bottle design in the process; the perfect combination of style and elegance all in one location.
The new bottle design marks a significant makeover for the global brand that is synonymous with Italian elegance, with the new bottle, glass and revamped logo re-affirming Peroni’s Italian style, classical style and premium positioning in today’s market.
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This article is sponsored by Peroni Australia.