Rebel Muse Celebrates in Style with P.E Nation

If you haven’t heard of Rebel Muse you have been hiding under a rock – it is tucked away in the Ori building on Lonsdale street, Braddon and is owned and run by the fabulous Alicia Xyrakis. We dare you to visit Alicia in-store and leave without a shiny white RM shopping bag – not possible! Alicia carefully selects pieces from the coolest designers like Alice McCall, Asilio, local label Ida Faux Fur and new urban label P.E Nation (just to name a few).

On Thursday night RM put on a killer night to celebrate its first birthday. The celebrations began with a VIP event where guests were treated to bubbly from Mt Majura wines, a VIP discount to latest season stock and a very special appearance by Pip Edwards and Claire Tregoning from P.E Nation followed by a special dinner party at 86 hosted by the one and only Sarah Kelly from My Fashion Empire.

DJ, Janette and I were delighted to attend the VIP event and it was all the glitz and glam we expected. We had a wonderful time mingling with fellow RM fans browsing through the latest delicious stock, scouting style stalkers (we can’t help ourselves) and of course chatting to fashion heavy weights Pip and Claire (yep, we are totally on first name basis). The P.E Nation co-founders and self-proclaimed besties have extensive experience in the fashion industry working for brands such as Ksubi, Sass and Bide and of course General Pants and Co – where Pip still reigns as the Design Director.

Pip Edwards, Alicia and Claire Tregoning (P.E Nation)

While DJ was being fabulous and taking pics of our fave style stalkers Janette and I couldn’t resist having our own quick Q&A session with the duo.
TFV: Obviously having worked for an array of iconic fashion brands what made you decide to venture out and start your own label?
Pip: It was a timing thing. Claire and I have always worked very well together and then Claire went on and had kids and I moved on to do other things but it was always on the cards. We’ve always had an amazing working relationship and I think that is part of the reason why a business can come into fruition. Our friendship was formed from an amazing working relationship not the other way round. I think it would be quite weird to be best friends and then work. But actually we worked so well together that we became friends that way.

TFV: Given Canberra offers a Bachelor of Fashion design at the (Canberra) Institute of Technology, we have a booming community of emerging fashion designers. So we would love to hear your advice and what you would say to an emerging designer who is starting out and whom wants to venture into their own fashion label?
Pip: The point of difference and a key word which has come out a lot lately is Authenticity. It’s about your message and who you are and your story and that needs to come through your clothes. It’s not about jumping on a trend, it’s not about what’s hot, it’s not about what’s next. It’s about your story and how that translates and that comes through the clothes, through the marketing – that’s really important. You need to understand that. What makes your brand, not only different but yours – there is no one like you…

… There has got to be integrity in fashion cause there is so many brands out there, it is so saturated.
Claire: You have to be passionate about it cause it is a really hard slog so you have to LOVE what you are doing so don’t just jump on something that you think is going to be good.

TFV: In 5 words describe P.E Nation?
Pip and Claire: Tomboy, Urban, Street, Retro, 80s and 90s

Thanks Rebel Muse (Alicia) and ItIsIsn’t (Gerard) for having us! We can’t wait to see what you will have in store for Birthday number 2!

SP xo