When Mick Jagger recently shared a holiday photo on Instagram wearing a vibrant paisley shirt, the garment’s retro charm caught attention. But this wasn’t just any vintage piece—it was a creation by Emily Adams Bode Aujla, the designer behind the cult-favorite label Bode, which reimagines 20th-century aesthetics for contemporary audiences.
Since its 2016 launch, Bode has dressed celebrities like Harry Styles, Jordan Peele, and the Jonas Brothers, merging historical craftsmanship with modern sensibilities. The brand’s signature lies in its meticulous upcycling of deadstock fabrics and vintage textiles, transforming them into one-of-a-kind jackets, embroidered corduroys, and lightweight chemises adorned with reissued prints from 1920s French mills.
Luxury with a Story
Though rooted in nostalgia, Bode’s pieces command luxury prices: quilted jackets retail for $1,000–$2,000, while embroidered socks fetch $250. “We focus on material and technique,” Bode Aujla explained. “Our work preserves artisanal methods—details like hand-sewn buttons or seams reflect labor-intensive traditions.”
The designer’s creative process is deeply personal, drawing from family narratives and domestic memories. For her Spring 2018 collection, she drew inspiration from her uncle’s mother’s attic in France, incorporating repurposed linens and duvet covers. “Sentimentality drives the brand,” she said.
Expanding the Vision
This year, Bode Aujla debuted her first womenswear line at Paris Fashion Week, featuring 1920s dresses and 1970s silhouettes inspired by her mother’s youth in Cape Cod. “She worked in a home where the hostess wore evening gowns nightly—that elegance resonated with me,” the designer noted. The collection included gold-sequined coats and fringed suede, blending decades into wearable art.
With stores in New York and Los Angeles—and a third planned for Europe—Bode’s retail spaces mirror her brand’s intimate ethos. “People connect to the tactile history of the clothes,” she said. As fashion trends cycle backward, Bode’s timeless, story-driven designs ensure its place in the industry’s future.
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