Prairie Underground

Inspired by handmade clothing, uniforms and distressed garments, Prairie Underground produces a populist collection with a subtle sensuality, conceived for durability and daily wear.  Blending utility with seduction, Prairie Underground’s collection is as ornamental as it is useful.  With an approach to casual sportswear that is both dramatic and practical, they cross the boundaries of active wear and loungewear.

 

Camilla Eckersley and Davora Lindner, co-designers and founders of Prairie Underground, first became friends in the 1980’s, at high school in Nebraska.  Consumed by the British New Romantic movement, as well as the New York East Village art scene, they immersed themselves in experimental fashion, music art and politics within their local community. This time and place remains the inspiration behind Prairie Underground, with the collection created as homage to iconoclastic, independent women everywhere.

Leaving successful careers behind in San Francisco and Minneapolis, Eckersley and Lindner relocated to Seattle, Washington, to launch Prairie Underground and to pursue their childhood dreams of creating their own collection.  First strategy meetings were conducted in Lindner’s Seattle studio apartment, with no question as to its future success or location. In the six years since, Prairie Underground has produced twenty-three collections, and remain to this day an entirely independent business, with no outside investors, and almost completely off the fashion industry map.

Located in the Pacific Northwest has imbued the collection with the character and lifestyle of the region. Producing distinct, wearable clothing that expands the boundary of personal expression and ease of wear.  Their point of view is communicated subtly through precise color use and ethical production methodology.  Customers buy into the collection not simply because of the aesthetic, but also because of their worldview and perspective.  As an independent company, they constantly walk the line between experimentation and commerce, striving to offer something novel and desirable with each new collection.

Incorporating hemp and organic cotton into every collection, Prairie Underground also works with recycled polyester, organic cotton blends and overstock fabric of both conventional and sustainable fabrications.  All clothing is produced in Seattle, directly supporting a diminishing network of sewing contractors all within minutes of their studio.  With a mission to source domestically, most of Prairie Underground’s fabrics are knitted in the US, and as close to Seattle as possible.  All orders are shipped with minimum packaging in re-used boxes, and hangtags are designed to be reused as bookmarks.  Working to establish a different type of American business with a fair and ethical standard for doing business in the garment industry, Prairie Underground only produces direct orders, hence eliminating unwanted surplus.  They strive to balance ecology with artistic expression, accessibility, economy, and local production.  As designers with an idiosyncratic point of view, they obsess about fit, silhouette and customer use.

Prairie Underground has become a thriving business by addressing a unique category in the Contemporary market.  Each season introducing styles that challenge the contemporary customer, they have built an impressive retail following with very little marketing or publicity, and as a direct result of sell through and consumer testimonial.  They are keenly aware of their customer and work to seduce and delight them with each new collection.  Prairie Underground is grateful for their success and truly believes they are living the American dream.

Website: www.prairieunderground.com

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