Shauna Toohey and Misha Hollenbach – the long-serving architects behind the P.A.M universe – have looked to the stars for their spring/summer 18 collection Planetary Movement. Awash with patterns, prints, slogans and hidden meaning, it’s streetwear you can wear to the club, a job interview or a mission to Mars. Since relocating from Melbourne to Paris a couple of years ago, the pair have continued to release their brand of thoughtfully eclectic clothing, accessories, music, magazines and dreams, without missing a beat.
Here, Charlotte Agnew and Byron Spencer styled the new gear on some of our favourite Sydney faces as we got to the heart of everything P.A.M are thinking, making, doing and planning.
What inspired this SS18 Planetary Movement collection?
It started with poetry. Threads of that are still in the collection, then that poetry got cosmic and soon it was intergalactic. The title was in-part inspired by the Sun Ra song Interplanetary Music. And movement is something I’m thinking about a lot. It’s important to remember our bodies and to take ourselves off the screens sometimes.
How do you feel P.A.M has changed in the last few years?
I think we are becoming more aware of what we do. We have always been very prolific in terms of creation and projects. Giving ourselves distance and a new city to live in has made us see what we do and what we bring. There’s a confidence and calmness that comes with that. I am enjoying this stage, it feels good to see what you do and like it.
How has being physically based in Paris influenced your designs across mens and womens?
Being based in Paris has allowed us to collaborate with different people and institutions. In Paris there can be a lot of opportunity if you have your own voice and have something to add to culture.
What do you guys miss most about living in Australia?
Of course #1 family and friends. I am grateful that it’s much easier to maintain relationships with tools like WhatsApp, FaceTime and SMS. I also miss green space, waking up to birds singing and calmness of general mood on the streets.
The creatives behind P.A.M imagery – including Byron Spencer, Rasa, Pete Lennon, Claire Thompson amongst others – have become almost ambassadors or icons of the brand. How important is it to you to involve the same people with the development and growth of P.A.M?
It’s never been about Misha and I, it’s always been a collaboration and the desire to build a world and make a tribe. We love to work with these people – they bring something and at the same time understand what we do. For me that’s collaboration, it’s not a colour way, it’s making something together that is unique, created by the mix of people and experiences involved.
We’re always impressed by how much you do and make. What can we expect next from you guys?
In the short term we have:
– An EGG (Exploded Generation Group) book launch and exhibition in Innen gallery in Zurich, opening on the 6th April.
– We are in a group show titled “Hello World” at the Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin, opening 27th April.
– Soon to be released is a collab with Suicoke for Women’s sandals.
– We have made the attendees uniforms and merchandise for the Australian pavilion at this years Venice Biennale which opens in May.
– We will launch another issue of our free magazine Utopia in June.
– We have a collab on the boil with SomeWare from LA
– … and more
Can’t wait, thanks Shauna.
Credits
Photography and direction Byron Spencer
Stylist Charlotte Agnew
Hair Pete Lennon @ Company 1
Make up Claire Thomson @ Company 1
Fashion assistant Vicki Liang
Talent Celia Flower Jones, Adam Mundzic @Debut Management, Otis Hodge, Emily Mundzic, Andrew Chikwi and Otis Burian Hodge