A new advanced contemporary collection called TY-LR from Australian Fashion Labels’ growing stable of Aussie brands might be the company’s most sophisticated offering yet.
Head designer Chris Kontos wasn’t in New York for a preview at the Mercer Hotel last week, but the first two retail shipments of TY-LR, designed in his hometown of Adelaide, Australia, and set to hit stores in August, made for a promising debut. (Following the wear-now, buy-now model of Australian Fashion Labels’ other brands — C/MEO Collective, Finders Keepers, Keepsake and The Fifth Label — a new TY-LR collection is slated to drop at retail every month.) Sharply tailored separates in clean silhouettes and luxe fabrics sourced from Turkey, Asia, Australia and New Zealand — some decorated with original houndstooth and brush-stroke prints — mark the label’s aesthetic, which is designed to target the grown-up career girl.
Kontos has long worked in fashion, but this is his first design role. “I worked the fashion retail floor my entire life, listening to women and hearing what they wanted from fashion,” he told WWD. “Successful designs didn’t just accommodate fit and style, but also made the customer feel something special. We sketched over 200 styles of whatever had been sitting in my head for all those years… Then, the team spent hours pulling references and colors to ensure our palettes and fabrications were right for the range.”
Kontos’ design instincts seem to be paying off: Kendall Jenner was recently spotted wearing one of TY-LR’s beige coats.
The collection will range from $85 to $100 for simple tanks and T-shirts to up to $695 for evening looks and outerwear. The label may eventually expand to include a men’s wear component.