ericaamerica, artist

Erica Wardle and Lucas Bowers have been operating the art fashion label ericaamerica since late 2001. Wardle came to the label with ten years’ experience in the fashion industry after studying costuming at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Lucas studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Curtin University and worked as a professional graphic artist prior to embarking on the ericaamerica journey. The label took off nationally in 2002 after hitting the catwalks as part of Australian Fashion Week in Sydney and winning the Mercedes Start Up program (a national competition to find new fashion talent).

The label gained ongoing international recognition with regular shows at Australian Fashion Week and successful catwalk appearances at L'Oreal Fashion week in Melbourne and New York Fashion Week. In 2005 the label presented the first ever menswear only individual collection show at Australian Fashion Week and launched a women's line that same year.

Essentially a pair of artists who use the medium of fashion rather than a commercial fashion label, Wardle and Bowers have consistently exhibited as ericaamerica in galleries throughout Australia. The label has featured in group exhibitions including: Fashion Moments, Art Moments Gallery, Bondi (2006) Viva Les Incroyables (short film), Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne (2004); Mine Own Executioner, Mundaring Arts Centre (2003); and the national tour of Graphicalogistics (2000-01). These shows have helped cement ericaamerica's reputation as a multi form art and design label. Locally the pair have exhibited print and installation work at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the John Curtin Gallery and the breadbox gallery, along with collaborative initiatives with renowned bio-art group Symbiotica. Most recently, ericaamerica teamed with French performance artist Orlan to create costume for her Harlequin Suit project as part of the Biennale of Electronic Arts Perth.