Elijah & Caesura - Interview

Where To Find Caesura

Was there a specific moment, a real pause, that changed how you saw everything and led to Caesura?

"It all began with the philosophy of the pause and me wanting to have full agency over my own life. At the time I was realising how easy it is to get lost in the business of everyday life and wanted to be able to move at my own pace, and so learning how to be more present and build something of my own began to be my main focus."

Growing up in a small country town and working on a vineyard before you moved to Melbourne to build something, how did that shift shape who you are and what you want Caesura to stand for?

"Even as a kid I found the city to be quite alluring and always felt myself wanting to just spend time there and hang out. In saying that though, I always appreciated the serenity of the country. Spending time in such a beautiful workplace instilled a natural appreciation of the surrounding landscape. Seeing the shapes of rolling hills on the horizon and watching the colours change in the vast landscape throughout the seasons has been something I think about when I design. I think about how I can try to capture pieces of that and elicit the same feelings."

Who or what has shaped your eye the most, and does that person or thing know it?

"When I was growing up my Mum was a graphic designer and always told me that I should pick design-based subjects in school or study something related after school. Given her expertise, I've always been able to bounce ideas and talk about design with my mum, but I never actually picked any of the subjects or studied them after school, which ended up being a big 'I told you so' moment. Pretty funny, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

How much of yourself is in Caesura, and how much of Caesura has shaped who you are becoming?

"Caesura has been a platform for me to bring my ideas to life and express myself creatively. I think that the process of sharing my work with other people and turning my ideas into a business has been something I've found challenging and has put me way outside my comfort zone. It's been teaching me to be more confident in my work, and in myself."

The layered tee was one of your first concepts and became the signature piece. What was behind that design, and why do you think it resonated the way it did?

"I saw a layered tee somewhere and wanted to create my own version. I had this concept stuck in my head and slowly brought it to life, one sample at a time. The original sample was actually black and white, but I couldn't bring myself to release it, and so the version we know today was born. Even though I love the colours, it's a tricky shirt to style, especially for people who don't wear colour like that, but I actually think that's the reason it became what it is. I started to give the shirts out and slowly that's how people started to recognise Caesura."

Caesura sits in the gap between street culture and classic luxury. How do you navigate that space without losing either side of it?

"I think that, like colour, this is achieved by mixing the two elements together. I have the most fun taking bits and pieces and mixing them together to create something fresh. I aim to lean into classic luxury more as the brand develops, obviously whilst maintaining the street culture elements."

Colour and silhouette are central to how you work. How do you approach those two elements, and what are you trying to communicate through them?

"Silhouette is the first thing I think about when I'm bringing a new concept to life, and this is completely driven by how I would want a certain garment to look, feel and sit on my body. After I have this sort of foundation for a garment, I can begin to experiment with colours and colour combinations. Oftentimes I have the most fun with vivid colours and combinations, though mixing and matching these pieces with ones that are more restrained in terms of colour is a huge part of how I bring looks for the brand together. I find myself smiling when I'm bringing looks together with my more colourful pieces. I use my work in hope to create moments or pauses in other people's lives, a reminder to be present in the busy world we're living in."

What does being present actually look like for you day to day, and is it something you still have to work at?

"Ironically, this is something I struggle with every day whilst I'm building Caesura, but I always do my best to make the most of the moments I have and be fully here in whatever I'm doing at any given moment."

The first capsule is coming. What does it represent for you, and where does it sit in the broader story of Caesura?

"The first capsule is an assortment of pieces I've designed that are all part of the same idea. It's been amazing not only to design the clothes themselves but the world they exist in and the campaign as a whole. It's super exciting to have finished an idea and created my first sort of campaign, being able to articulate this to people just how I imagined it. This capsule is the first of many to come, and they're only going to get better and better."

What did you have to leave behind to build this?

"I've had to leave behind the version of myself that didn't think I even had the ability to design clothes of my own, and many more after that. Pursuing something like this isn't easy, but building something from the ground up and being able to act on your creative visions is one of the most beautiful things ever."

What would the version of you growing up in the small country town think of where you are now?

"I think that they would be super proud, excited and slightly amazed that I've not only been able to bring this to life but also met so many amazing people who have helped and been a part of this amazing journey."

Where is Caesura headed, and what would it mean for it to become everything you want it to be?

"My goal is for Caesura to become a symbol. It's a fight against a distracted, unfulfilling life. I want to inspire others to be here now, to take time to slow and just be.

Other than that, I'll probably keep designing cool clothes."

How much of yourself is in Caesura, and how much of Caesura has shaped who you are becoming?

The layered tee was one of your first concepts and became the signature piece. What was behind that design, and why do you think it resonated the way it did?

Caesura sits in the gap between street culture and classic luxury. How do you navigate that space without losing either side of it?

Elijah O'Brien

Colour and silhouette are central to how you work. How do you approach those two elements, and what are you trying to communicate through them?

What does being present actually look like for you day to day, and is it something you still have to work at?

The first capsule is coming. What does it represent for you, and where does it sit in the broader story of Caesura?

What did you have to leave behind to build this?

What would the version of you growing up in the small country town think of where you are now?

Where is Caesura headed, and what would it mean for it to become everything you want it to be?

"My goal is for Caesura to become a symbol. It's a fight against a distracted, unfulfilling life. I want to inspire others to be here now, to take time to slow and just be.

Other than that, I'll probably keep designing cool clothes."

Elijah & Caesura - Interview

Was there a specific moment, a real pause, that changed how you saw everything and led to Caesura?

Growing up in a small country town and working on a vineyard before you moved to Melbourne to build something, how did that shift shape who you are and what you want Caesura to stand for?

Who or what has shaped your eye the most, and does that person or thing know it?

How much of yourself is in Caesura, and how much of Caesura has shaped who you are becoming?

The layered tee was one of your first concepts and became the signature piece. What was behind that design, and why do you think it resonated the way it did?

Caesura sits in the gap between street culture and classic luxury. How do you navigate that space without losing either side of it?

Colour and silhouette are central to how you work. How do you approach those two elements, and what are you trying to communicate through them?

What does being present actually look like for you day to day, and is it something you still have to work at?

The first capsule is coming. What does it represent for you, and where does it sit in the broader story of Caesura?

What did you have to leave behind to build this?

What would the version of you growing up in the small country town think of where you are now?

Where is Caesura headed, and what would it mean for it to become everything you want it to be?

How much of yourself is in Caesura, and how much of Caesura has shaped who you are becoming?

The layered tee was one of your first concepts and became the signature piece. What was behind that design, and why do you think it resonated the way it did?

Caesura sits in the gap between street culture and classic luxury. How do you navigate that space without losing either side of it?

Colour and silhouette are central to how you work. How do you approach those two elements, and what are you trying to communicate through them?

What does being present actually look like for you day to day, and is it something you still have to work at?

The first capsule is coming. What does it represent for you, and where does it sit in the broader story of Caesura?

What did you have to leave behind to build this?

What would the version of you growing up in the small country town think of where you are now?

Where is Caesura headed, and what would it mean for it to become everything you want it to be?

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