Romance Was Born

Romance Was Born

Company type	Private
Industry	Fashion
Founded	2005
Founder	Anna Plunkett, Luke Sales
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Women's haute couture, ready-to-wear apparel, accessories

Romance Was Born is a fashion label from Australia, established in 2005 by designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales. The brand specializes in women's haute couture and ready-to-wear apparel and accessories, merging artistic expression with fashion and frequently incorporating elements inspired by Australiana.

History

During the early 2000s, Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales crossed paths while attending East Sydney Technical College (currently TAFE NSW Sydney Institute) for fashion design studies. Choosing to follow their own creative direction, they declined an internship opportunity with John Galliano at Dior and subsequently launched Romance Was Born. The company’s name is said to have been inspired by a pin purchased in Sydney’s Chinatown by Sales’ cousin.

While primarily recognized for their clothing, Romance Was Born's creative output extends to wallpaper, furniture, art installations, editorial fashion projects, toys, theatrical costumes, and stage outfits for pop performers. In 2008, they introduced a limited capsule range in collaboration with retailer Sportsgirl. Later, in January 2020, they revived a well-loved collection drawing inspiration from characters featured in May Gibbs’s Snugglepot and Cuddlepie stories.

The brand’s philosophy centers on crafting engaging cultural experiences designed to evoke strong emotional connections.

Collaborations

Collaboration is a core aspect of Romance Was Born’s approach, especially partnering with Australian artists and designers to discover shared creative visions and forge inspiring intersections between fashion and art. Their inaugural collaboration was with Del Kathryn Barton, a recipient of the Archibald Prize.

The label has also worked alongside musical groups such as The Presets and Architecture in Helsinki. In 2017, they released a series of five rugs in partnership with Designer Rugs, utilizing patterns adapted from their print archives. Additional collaborations have involved designers, QT Hotels, as well as prominent companies including Lego, Disney, and Marvel.

Further notable design partnerships include collaborations with Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, Ken Done, May Gibbs, and Paul Yore.

Recognition

Romance Was Born’s creations are part of collections in Australian institutions like the National Gallery of Victoria—housing 13 pieces—and the Powerhouse Museum, which holds three items including the Iced Vo Vo dress, a crocheted dress, and platform shoes.

In 2014, the brand was spotlighted in the NGV International exhibition Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, highlighting their interdisciplinary blend of fashion, art, music, and design.

Their designs have graced red carpets worn by renowned figures such as Cate Blanchett, Tavi Gevinson, Karen O, MIA, Natasha Khan, Cyndi Lauper, Lily Allen, Grimes, and Miley Cyrus.

In 2018, Romance Was Born released Romance Was Born: A Love Story with Fashion, chronicling their development within the Australian fashion industry. Their work was also featured in the 2019 summer exhibition Camp: Notes on Fashion at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A portrait of co-founder Anna Plunkett by Meagan Pelham titled Romance is LOVE was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2022 Archibald Prize. Additionally, Romance Was Born collaborated with Anne Cordingley to win the 2022 Sydney Theatre Award for best costume design for their contribution to Amadeus.