Come On is genderless, timeless, and ageless. Established in 2019 in Miami, this versatile clothing brand is inspired by punk culture and surrealism. Come On’s designs are classic and defiant, applying a modern twist to heritage tailoring traditions.
Come On’s vision is to erase the rules that determine why, how, and where each piece should be worn. For those thirsty for a fashion experience that’s different from the norm, for those seeking the classic style of a well-made suit while maintaining a ludic spirit, for those committed to responsible production and responsible consumption – Come On.
The brand’s sophomore offering, “The Victorian Collection” examines the theme of liberation in reference to the percolating reimagination of the status quo during the Victorian era in England, following the Industrial Revolution, through 25 stunning skus. Still true to its roots in punk and surrealism, this new collection revisits and builds on the theme of Come On’s debut, “Glam Punk 2021”, a meditation on the personal autonomy afforded by the punk rock ethos. The latest collection debuted on September 12th with a runway show for The Flying Solo NYFW Fashion Show, followed by an official public launch on September 18th, with a pop-up show in Soho’s independent designer platform-cum-brick-and-mortar, Flying Solo.
The new line plays with the emerging liberal ideology and intellectualism of the Victorian period, through bold use of materials such as lace, velvet, silk, plaid, and cotton, conjuring up a timeless array of pieces with a meticulous focus on the diversity of human anatomy. “The Victorian Collection” demonstrates a continuing evolution for the new brand, which officially launched early 2021.
Central to its mission, Come On employs local tailors and seamstresses to realize the vision of the Victorian Collection, and the ones to follow. Working closely with makers in their microfactory located in Little River, Come On ensures that each piece is made with the utmost care, creating responsible products made for responsable customers.
Interview with Florencia Macri, Founder and Creative Director, and Pia Barberis, Lead Designer of COME ON
Describe yourself as a creative and how Come On was born.
Autodidactic and intuitive, COME ON was born in a spontaneous way, with heavy inspiration from cinema, music, and art.I traveled to Paris with the intention of acquiring the fabrics that were eventually used in our first collection. I knew that Tartan would be the principal fabric for all future lines. Working alongside artist friends, I was able to begin shaping the project starting with photos, videos, and conceptualization. It was such a fun trip; I returned to Miami fully convinced to officially start the brand. After the decision to open, for more than a year it was all about running around creating patterns, building out the space, finding the proper team, and so on.
Today COME ON is a creative and multidisciplinary team. We’re able to create a brand with a youthful spirit that aims to give a new idea of consumerism, assuming the responsibility of being a conscious and ethical brand.
How exactly do you manage the creative process in regards to the challenging landscape of the current fashion industry?
We’re constantly moving, investigating, and trying out new patterns. Officially, we launch two collections per year. Each one is timeless, doesn’t follow a seasonal structure, and has its own personality, in terms of shapes and colors.
Our biggest challenge is that we’d like each piece to be able to be used and combined from collection to collection without becoming obsolete. It’s our way of encouraging responsible consumerism.We’re constantly looking to create responsible clothing for responsible consumers, crafting designs that are made to last for decades so our clients can buy with the intention of collecting COME ON pieces.
What is the most challenging issue for Come On as an independent label?
The main problem we face in trying to run a brand that’s working towards sustainability is the high cost of purchasing materials in bulk from sustainable manufacturers. It’s impossible for a brand that’s just starting out and also not looking to produce in bulk.
We do face day-to-day difficulties being an independent brand, but we’ve also discovered spaces that give place to other brands who are starting out like us, and that was interesting to explore.
What’s the main impact of social media, both in marketing and selling your brand?
Using our social media platforms has been fundamental in showing clients the brand’s ideology, documenting our processes, and showcasing things like our work space, the machines that create their pieces, and our inspirations and references. It’s important to us that our clients understand the product and how each piece is created.
We use these platforms as our main channel for marketing. It’s also the best way for us to communicate with our clients, receive their feedback and see their reactions, which, in turn, helps us understand how our clients experience the brand.
Do you choose the models for your label in a way that addresses the issue of diversity in fashion?
We use people with different styles and ages. COME ON is genderless and ageless. Our models are chosen based on whatever inspires the current collection.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your work?
Our challenge is to maintain the brand’s ethos. We’d like to be able every day to push the boundaries in design, in the quality of our products, and in consumer habits.
How can your label play an important role in the daily lives of your clients?
COME ON aims to have collections that are timeless, that don’t follow popular trends.
Our intention is to remove the compulsive need to keep up with the latest collections, which also generates a lot of anxiety in the consumer. COME ON’s commitment to our clients is to create pieces that can be combined with others in the brand and will stand the test of time. Buying a COME ON piece is buying a responsible article of clothing.
From another point of view, we also like to transmit the concept of freedom and create a new space for self-expression. We like to see our clients express themselves with our pieces, whether by taking our pajama sets out for the night, or even wearing our overalls to a gala, the concept of unapologetically breaking protocol is well established within our brand!
What do you think about the opportunity of selling your pieces online nowadays?
Our online stores are what help us reach more than our local clientele, deleting geographic boundaries and allowing us to sell our products in different parts of the world. We believe that after the pandemic, online capabilities became stronger. Our goal is to also have our website be as much of an experience as shopping in-person at one of our stores. After what happened with the pandemic, we’ve realized that this has helped us be more connected with our clients through the online market; there was an expansion in communications.
You’re writing a letter to your FUTURE SELF. What do you say?
I could be wrong, I could be right 🙂
33 MAGAZINE 