Stage Beauty

The name Silence Is Golden could be considered ironic since designers Olivia Shih and Kelvin Tam, who just launched their label last year, already have the folks in fashion circles talking. The pair met at the University of New South Wales, where they were both studying architecture. A mutual love of fashion and film brought them together to form the inspired and sometimes eclectic new men's and women's ready-to-wear line based on personalized story concepts.

"Because the collections are theme-based, each garment almost represents its own tale, so there is a certain depth beneath the surface of a piece for the wearer to explore," explains Tam. "Our current collection is called Leaving Home, and it is a story between a nomad and a native princess that takes place in the desert." The entire collection possesses a vintage military feel that evokes feelings of travel, nostalgia, and romance. Among the many standout pieces are a long-sleeved pastel-hued linen mini-dress with a rouched waist and ruffled neckline and an oversized lightweight leather men's blazer with contrasting buttons.

In 2005, Silence Is Golden premiered their first collection at Australian Fashion Week and won the Mercedes-Benz start-up program, but that didn't change their indie attitude toward design. "We still do our own thing and tell our own story," Tam says. "Art should reflect the creators true personality, and the vision should never be over-crafted."

With style influences as diverse as Jean-Luc Godard, Kurt Cobain, Yves Saint Laurent, and Junya Watanabe, it is easy to see why Silence is Golden is a line truly reflective of its name. They don't have to say a word—the soft-spoken presence of the clothing speaks for itself.

Storytelling comes to life for the Australian duo from Silence Is Golden.