Things That Are Great: Emily Current And Meritt Elliott’s New Clothing Line

by The Daily

Dynamic duo Emily Current and Meritt Elliott are back at it again, with the release of their new lifestyle brand The Great, although this time, they’re leaving denim out of the picture. Drawing on inspiration from their experience as stylists and from their previous label Current/Elliott, their new brand is replete with simple silhouettes with a feminine twist, perfect for summertime festivities. They gave your Daily an in-depth look at their new line, dished on how they came up with the name, and shared their red carpet muse. As their Spring line finally hits stores, so you can look forward to sporting their chicly slouchy pants, oversized button-down shirts, and a plethora of army jackets.
BY EMMA MIKHAILOFF

How did The Great come to fruition?
Emily Current: It’s been a long road to get here! We’ve explored many different facets of our creative selves, including styling, design, decor, and even writing a book about denim. All of these endeavors have led us on an adventure that culminates with the launch of The Great.
Meritt Elliott: It’s been our longtime dream to create a fully realized, multi-category expression of our aesthetic.

So, what can we expect from the line?
Emily:
This is our first time creating a collection with all different fabrications; it was fun to work in mediums like silk and lace. Our aesthetic is the juxtaposition of ultra-feminine, super rough, and tumble tomboy.
Meritt: We love taking classic, familiar silhouettes and playing with proportion and details, while always keeping things soft to the touch so that it’s comfortable. We wanted to make it so that when you approach your closet each morning, you actually want to wear these clothes.

Any favorite pieces in the collection?
Meritt:
The Swing Army Jacket is a favorite, it’s a re-proportioned closet staple with a shorter hem and a swingy back. The knits are very soft and lived-in, and the eyelet pieces play nicely off of the soft Japanese twill slouch pants.

What are some things you find to be great?
Meritt:
Coffee is great! Spending time with family and friends is great…and the perfect T-shirt is great, too.

Agreed on all counts! What’s in store next for The Great?
Emily: We’re expanding fabrications and bottoms for Fall 2015, and we’re looking forward to expanding categories and retailers as we grow.
Meritt: We’re also not ruling out leather goods or brick-and-mortar retail in the future!

Remind us: When did you two start working together?
Emily:
We first met in college and quickly bonded over a mutual love of denim and treasure hunting for vintage. After graduation, we realized we could translate our shared aesthetic into a career—and that two heads were better that one! We started a styling and consulting business shortly thereafter. We still consult and style, but most of our time now is spent designing The Great.

What was it like transitioning from styling to designing?
Meritt: Styling allows us the insight to know exactly what’s in the market at all times. It’s helped us hone in on the importance of exactly what proportion and fit is new, needed, and flattering.
Emily: As stylists, we’re able to play with so many different looks and work with a plethora of amazing designers—making our perspective on designing a brand of our own aesthetic even more committed and directional.

Which celeb always kills it at red carpet events?
Emily: We admire Diane Kruger’s red carpet fearlessness! She understands the idea of a total look, and her hair and makeup always compliments, or is in perfect juxtaposition to, her fashion choices.

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