Gauge81

Brainchild of Colombia-born designer Monika Silva and Amsterdam-based fashion industry veteran Gijsje Ribbens, Gauge81 articulates modern-day femininity through the study of proportion. Underpinned by a fascination with scale and a fluency in knitwear, the of-the-moment label takes its name from the density of stitches in its garments, suffixed by the duo’s lucky numbers for good measure. Gauge81 showcases the strength of contrast in its display of exaggerated dimensions: uber-tiny miniskirts are offset by billowing oversized trench coats and sweaters. This experimentation with sillhouette achieves an air of mystique salient in contemporary notions of sensuality; the label demonstrates a calculated application of innuendo in an enigma of sheer organza and shoulder-exposing styles. Gauge81’s au courant interpretation of the feminine is comprehensive, with the label’s Italian-sourced textiles enabling easy machine-washing for the time-pressed wearer. In an age where sexiness is measured by a seeming aloofness towards one’s appearance, Gauge81 provides a fitting uniform.