“It has been an exciting year for Song for the Mute”, muses the brand's founder and one half of its creative direction, Melvin Tanaya. They have just opened their very first flagship store in Sydney, as well as a concept space in Melbourne. “We’ve had the opportunity to meet and interact with our audience directly”, he explains, – an approach that feels ultra personal and perfectly at odds with the ‘social only’ relationship that seems to dominate much of our brand/customer interactions these days. It has meant that they have been able to focus even more clearly on their customer – unbound by trends – to determine what they create. And the results? They speak for themselves.

 The newest Song for the Mute pieces to land on Fabric of Society are from the label’s AW24 ‘Teardrops’ collection. A mix of silky sets that feel effortlessly romantic and nostalgic, and contrasting raw edged skirts and tops. All draw inspiration from the designer's personal emotions as they opened their first flagship store – specifically, Melvin reveals, their feeling of anxiety. “The anxiety surrounding this significant step as a brand, along with the need to mask our worries from the rest of the team and our families, inspired this collection”, he explains, with a beautiful honesty that feels authentically replicated in their work. “We drew inspiration from ‘Commedia Dell’Arte’ and intentionally created silhouettes and fabrics for each character that people can lean into to ‘perform’ in their day-to-day lives”.

A proud hallmark of many Australian brands, Song for the Mute also showcases an unwavering commitment to sustainability whilst leaning into and using their geographical isolation to an advantage. As Tanaya notes, they are able to “break free from conventional fashion norms, embracing a creative freedom that allows them to develop distinctive styles”.

Today the brand keeps production as local as possible, recently creating their first in house factory. “By keeping production local, we can closely oversee the manufacturing process, ensuring that every piece meets our exacting standards for craftsmanship and detail”, he explains. 

 This high standard of craftsmanship is exactly what has garnered Song for the Mute a loyal (and global) following. For Fabric of Society’s Head of Buying, Catriona Macleod, it was a brand she had to have on site, "There's a synergy between Song for the Mute and Fabric of Society, so it was a brand we naturally wanted our customers to be able to enjoy. Both appeal to a confident woman who's not afraid to mix things up", she explains. Tayana sees this as a woman who is “cultured” and “a collector of her interests”, again – effortlessly aligned with the bold Fabric of Society woman. And for now, whilst we (unfortunately) cannot jump on a jet to Sydney to see the Song for the Mute woman shop away in their new flagship store, we have the very best bits from the brand right here for her on Fabric of Society. No airfare necessary.