For some people bohemian is a trend, a way of dressing, eating, socializing. For Bianca it's at the core of her existence. Raised on a commune in Big Sur by an artist, beatnik father and debutante mother (by the way this is an epic love story, the type books are written about). As a young adult she spent time in New York City modeling and immersing herself in the culture and arts. Then returned to California where she created the perfect balance between fast paced and country life. Bianca now has a live and work space in LA's Atwater Village. An unassuming building that once housed a grocery store has been converted into a delightful home for her and her artist husband; as well as a studio for Biancas line Sugar Candy Mountain. The moment you walk in you feel as though you've stumbled upon a hidden gem, the energy in the space is amazing; warm, calming and full of life. Filled with beautiful works of art, vintage furniture and of course the wonderful collection that is Sugar Candy Mountain.
Bianca brings her love of nature and community into her designs and her companies ethos. Creating jobs locally, treating every worker as an equal and valued part of the team and paying them fairly for their contributions is of huge importance to Bianca. Equally important, running a business in a sustainable way with an appreciation and respect for our planet. SCM uses natural fabrics and packages their pieces in recycled paper; accompanied by a hand written note and white sage fresh from the garden (the personal touch and absence of plastic is a breath of fresh air) . Bianca understands the bigger picture, in order to be truly successful we must create while empowering, strengthening and respecting, not by ravaging our natural resources and fellow humans.
The name Sugar Candy Mountain comes from an Orwellian reference to heaven, every time I try relay the meaning I go back to the words on their site because it is so poetic and beautifully put.
"Sugar Candy Mountain was created out of a desire for a confluence of comfort, beauty, and community. It is a reference Orwell made to Heaven, but in our sense, a Heaven of nature and community that can be lived-in and brought from Big Sur to Manhattan. It is generated from the ideals of radical creativity, revolutionary beauty, and a future that is self-sustaining."
The clothes, you can not forget the clothes. They are beautiful, wearable pieces cut from fabrics that feel great against the skin and all manufactured locally here in Los Angeles. The garments are sewn using elegant but sturdy french seams and a lovely attention to detail (for example; the back of the Gwen top, the subtle pleat on the Astrid dress or the delicate button placket on the Deirdre). Jamie Arrigo (Wallace and James) and I had the pleasure of a studio visit last week. I got to play dress up in SCM's fall collection, it was all so dreamy. While the lucky Jamie got to try and catch me looking normal between hideous mid sentence face's (I talked a lot!!) thankfully shes incredibly talented behind the lens. Check out her shots and part of the Sugar Candy Mountain Fall collection below.
Looks from Fall 2017
behind the scenes
All photos by Jamie Arrigo + clothing by Sugar Candy Mountain.