ABOUT US
“A seamless blend of fashion and art.”
Bjork for Volta Tour wears MATERIALBYPRODUCT
Award-winning designer and artisan Susan Dimasi is the Creative Director of fashion house MATERIALBYPRODUCT. She established the brand in Melbourne in 2003 and has consistently delivered collections, described by fashion commentators as “a seamless blend of fashion and art”, ever since.
Dimasi’s work is informed by her long apprenticeship in men’s tailoring; consequently, signature stitching and constructed tailoring details are continuing themes in her work. In line with couture traditions, MATERIALBYPRODUCT does not compromise on materials, time or custom fitting. Attention to detail is paramount, even in ready-to-wear items. Dimasi has an unapologetic commitment to exquisite materials – silk crepe, wool felt, and featherweight leather:
“The garments are more than clothes, they are compositions.”
MATERIALBYPRODUCT’s diverse international clientele has come to expect a high level of detail, quality, creativity and ingenuity in each MBP-tailored, hand-crafted piece. The resulting reputation in excellence has resulted in impressive collaborations, commissions and exhibitions with avant-garde artists including musicians such as Bjork. MBP also devises exciting “enactments” for seasonal trunk shows, which are regularly seen in galleries, museums, private residences and in partnership with luxury establishments.
MATERIALBYPRODUCT has shown at fashion weeks in Melbourne, Sydney, Paris, Milan and Barcelona. In November 2013, Dimasi was invited by the Prato Chamber of Commerce to source and develop textiles with Italian mills and manufacturers that work with leading fashion houses, including Lanvin and Ferragamo.
Its bespoke pieces have been exhibited at the Musée de design et d'arts appliques contemporains, Switzerland, the National Gallery of Victoria, Object Gallery and Craft Victoria. Dimasi’s designs feature in Fashion: Australian and New Zealand Designers (Thames & Hudson), Art/Fashion in the 21st Century (Thames & Hudson) and on the Mercedes-Benz initiative www.theavantgardediaries.com.
In 2015, MATERIALBYPRODUCT achieved several landmark achievements including the announcement that it is the first Australian luxury brand to be launched in the UAE for the Middle East. MBP has been ushered into this territory by renowned brand agencies Capital D and Sunday Showroom, the champions to all luxury names in that region, from Ferrari to Fendi. Sunday Showroom’s Directrice commented that:
“MATERIALBYPRODUCT is immediately picking up premium concept store accounts with a strong following and, on the other end of the spectrum, interest from leading departments stores are a testament to this being a sophisticated and seasoned brand that women all over the world will love.”
MATERIALBYPRODUCT Curtain Gown exhibited NGV
& O80 Barcelona Fashion Week
Another premium MBP collaboration in 2015 involved photographer Hiroyuki Arakawa (who teams with Yohji Yamamoto for the DISCORD collection) and his partner Maxine Van-Cliffe Arakawa – founder of Tokyo’s Maxine Digital Magazine and contemporary Australian artist Rosslynd Piggott (who hand painted gowns, scarves, and necklaces for the Magnolia collection) . This collaboration and Japan will be a space to watch in 2016.
MATERIALBYPRODUCT in conjunction with Australian luxury wine producer Yering is poised to refine the nexus between art and fashion through their stunning collaborations that create immersive experiences.
Internationally renowned fashion curators, designers and creatives have made the pilgrimage to Dimasi’s workroom that offers a glimpse into the MBP world of fine art, culture, fashion and the avant-garde.
Winner: two Premier’s Design Awards: 2006 Category Fashion and 2006 Overall Winner.
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Banner image Magnolia Gown hand painted by Rosslynd Piggott represented by Sutton Gallery, Melbourne. Sculpture Bianca Hester, represented by Sarah Scout Presents
