Known for its beautiful, draping natural fabrics and timelessly classic style, Robe is a resort wear fashion label focused on creating pieces that make women feel comfortable and beautiful, while also remaining very practical for wearing over wet swimmers at the beach or for cocktails in the city. Rebecca Kroon says she spent 18 months developing a fabric for Robe that was absorbent, quick drying, natural, breathable and light on the skin. “I wanted to develop a fabric that looked, felt and behaved much like silk but that would also be machine washable and appropriate for the beach to bar. I initially thought the fabric would be available ‘off the shelf’ but nothing met my standards … In the end we decided to mill it specifically for the brand.”
Robe celebrates feminine beauty and sensuality without the pressure of being ‘on trend’ or feeling vulnerable by the water. Kroon says, “I think fashion and style represents something different and unique to every person. Fashion has the ability to make you feel a million bucks, but it also has the ability to make you feel like you just didn’t quite get it right or didn’t quite fit in. I think there are so many demands on women in particular about the way they look including what they wear. The pressure to dress ‘stylishly’ and ‘in fashion’ is huge – and can be very expensive. We aim to create classic pieces that stand the test of time. We focus on flattering women’s shapes (whatever that shape or size may be) rather than focusing on being ‘on trend’.” In a shopping landscape where the options are endless, consider Robe a complete snapshot of must haves for everyday women, she says.
The theme for Robe’s upcoming collection is Cocktails at Sunset. “It [will be] slightly more romantic and feminine than our previous collections. Every piece I design is designed for, and named after, a special woman in my life. That way we have pieces that suit different shapes and styles so that we hopefully have something to suit everyone across the collections. We also worked with local artist Penelope Bell (see profile p. 56) to develop two incredible new handpainted prints. We are looking at a release date later this year.”
Kroon believes we are all searching for a slower paced and more relaxed way of life. “I feel like there is a move back to that beautiful 60s and 70s Australia that most of us only see depicted in movies … We emulate that lifestyle in our brand – slow it down. Take time to hang with friends, go to the beach and drink champagne … dangle your feet in the pool or just simply float around the house, looking and feeling the part. We live in an incredibly beautiful and spacious part of the world – we just want to encourage women to enjoy it!”
