In this exclusive interview, A.W.A.K.E. MODE and &amp; Other Stories chat about the significance of collaborating, sustainability and the Southeast Asian consumer.

L&rsquo;Officiel Singapore speaks with Natalia Alaverdian, Founder of A.W.A.K.E. MODE and Karolina Ekman, Head of co-labs at &amp; Other Stories on how the two brands have come together in the Capsule Fall/Winter Collection that launches on 27 October.

What are some design elements that are distinctly A.W.A.K.E. MODE from the pieces in this collaborative collection?
Natalia Alaverdian: The co-lab collection is rooted in A.W.A.K.E. MODE&rsquo;s signature codes, such as sharp asymmetric tailoring and deconstructed everyday wardrobe staples. The result is a balance of dreams and pragmatism while incorporating an element of wearability.
How is surrealism explored in this collaboration?
NA: We wanted to create something very special where garments would have a life of their own and move in their own way, not necessarily the same as the movement of the wearer. To that end, we introduced our laser-cut skirt which is very sculpted and graphic but when the wearer moves, the elements of the skirt would start moving too - but in a separate way, so the piece really comes to life. We can also see a different yet similar effect with fringes on the red dress which create both movement and texture. In addition, the fur coat has this &ldquo;hairy&rdquo; texture thanks to the long faux fur element.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Since A.W.A.K.E. MODE&rsquo;s works are sculptural, how did this collaboration allow for the price point of these garments to match the &amp; Other Stories consumer?
NA: The concept was to create something very unique that would resonate both with A.W.A.K.E. MODE and &amp; Other Stories. So the capsule, while concise, is still quite versatile; it is really a little Fall/Winter wardrobe, which comprises all categories including accessories. We tried to concentrate on pieces that represented both brands and would sit comfortably in the same wardrobe, yet be completely unique and a statement on their own. The capsule theme, therefore, is very much about deconstructed tailoring, textures, and a lot about movement. I am hoping that this collection will bring as much joy and special moments to women who end up wearing these pieces as it brought me when I was creating and working on them with the wonderful &amp; Other Stories team.
Since A.W.A.K.E. MODE prides itself on responsible production, how was sustainability undertaken in this collaboration?
NA: The collection features long-lasting wardrobe styles, and we have used&nbsp;sustainably sourced materials for many styles in the collection such as Naia&trade; yarn, Chrome-free leather, recycled brass, recycled polyester and wool sourced through the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).

&amp; Other Stories opened the doors to its first SEA boutique in Singapore in August this year. How do the pieces in the collection fit the Singaporean &amp; Other Stories consumer?
Karolina Ekman: This is the first co-lab we&rsquo;ve launched in Singapore and we&rsquo;re very excited and happy to offer A.W.A.K.E. MODE&rsquo;s designs to our customers in the form of an exclusive collection. Our co-labs complement the existing collections with their different and strong characteristics and expertise. By working with a mix of both new and more established talents, it adds to &amp; Other Stories&rsquo; diversity and brings an element of surprise to the customers.

What sets this collaboration apart from other brand crossovers that &amp; Other Stories has undertaken?
KE: A.W.A.K.E. MODE is truly unique and this co-lab really shows the strength of Natalia&rsquo;s storytelling. Touches of surrealism make the collection fun yet elegant while using lesser-known cultural references also brings depth. We&rsquo;re so excited to share the A.W.A.K.E. MODE universe with women around the world &ndash; and bring to life a collection of pieces that act as an ideal autumn/winter capsule wardrobe.
What can Singaporean consumers look forward to from &amp; Other Stories and A.W.A.K.E. MODE?
KE: The A.W.A.K.E. MODE co-lab collection is a truly fantastic collection, and we&rsquo;re convinced that our fashion-loving customers in Singapore will think the same.

Exclusive: A.W.A.K.E. MODE and & Other Stories on the Surrealism-Inspired Capsule Co-Lab

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