Claude Maus Fall/Winter Collection

Rob Maniscalco is the real name behind pseudonym fashion label Claude Maus. He originally used the Claude Maus name for its art exhibition projects, which stemmed from his background as an artist & fashion designer.

Claude Maus now has a strong underground following within Australia & overseas in Europe, Japan, & North the US. The cult-like status of Claude Maus is transferred to the music scene, with the likes of Cut Copy, & The Presets evidently supporting the Claude Maus fashion movement. The combination of rockstar representation & fashion leads only to one thing – Claude Maus fashion further stamping its mark as one of Australia’s most popular independent sub-cultured labels.

One of the most Claude Maus clothing items is the hooded leather bomber jacket, an item which has proved pivotal to the labels success as an picture between vintage, modern, sleek & stylish.

Claude Maus’ Fall-Winter 2009/2010 collection will launch tonight in suitably chilly circumstances in Melbourne. The range which features raw-edged sheerling vests is perfect for the urban pagan neolith within us all.

Designer Rob Maniscalco (Claude Maus) said that the collection was a spooky, ethereal feel & he wanted it to look like it the pieces had been discarded by some tribe.

Maniscalco says “I was familiar with his work and I enjoyed his aesthetic, so it was great to let him lose. The whole thing was experimental, with plenty of double exposures and they didn’t know what the results would be but it works.”

The theory that unusual, creative and smart fashion will perform well in the GFC seems to be holding true at Claude Maus.

“Usually the more experimental pieces struggle to sell, but the sheerling pieces are popular. We’re getting 60 year elderly ladies and 17 year elderly girls buying them. I think it’s because even though all the lambskin pieces are matchless and raw, they’re all flattering, they’re designed to be functional,” they says.