Wearing The Inside On The Out: Dark Romantic Couture Since 1998

"Rose Mortem" the fashion label was created in 1998 when I first began designing clothing professionally and launched my online label. My name is Rose, and I personally designed and created every item you see in my collection. With my friends Jayme and Merlin, we hand-cut and sew every item for every client.

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I absolutely love my clients; they're some of the most inspiring, beautiful and interesting people I could have imagined knowing. There is often a story behind each of my designs - a song, a book, a painting, a person - each design has its own source of inspiration. Over the years I've also learned that most of my clients have a story to tell, too - a reason they are placing their order, a reason that particular design speaks to them so personally. I often design for celebrities, performers, and public figures - and have an impeccable reputation for confidentiality! If you look closely, you'll see my designs in movies, at the opera, or on festival stages.

I started my fashion label when I was just a teenager, when I discovered how empowering and magical it felt to wear this fantastical, beautiful clothing I had imagined and created. After doing this for nearly twenty years, it is that magic that has kept me inspired, motivated and caring.

I think of my work as "dark romantic couture" because I've always been inspired by the art and writings of romanticism, and because of a very special musician. I heard a song called "The Dark Romantics" by a band called The Awakening when I was just starting my fashion label, and that song prompted my taking those words as my company's tag line. In a truly incredible twist of fate, eleven years later I ended up meeting the man who wrote and performed that song - Ashton Nyte - we fell in love at first sight and have been married since 2009. For that reason, among many more, I am convinced that faerie tales absolutely do come true. If you would like to see us along with some of my custom designs, do watch:

http://youtu.be/tRJ3pyRyOkI

I love to create works inspired by the romantics, by beautiful faerie and the enchanting, elegantly gothic. Over the years my label has been featured in publications around the globe; I continue to release new designs as I have time, streamlining the current selection to reflect a variety of ideas from past and present inspirations, which are usually musical or literary.

As a pianist and compulsive music lover, music remains my most essential inspiration today - this inspiration has resulted in creations that, I hope, feel like the music that has played such an important role throughout my life.

Today I continue to tour with my husband Ashton, run my fashion label, and write. I also work in software development on the management team of one of the most highly respected technology companies in the world, so I stay rather busy! I predominantly reside in the USA with my family and four rather ferocious house cats. Be warned, they'll take your arm off. The cats, I mean. ;)

Thank you so much for reading our story - I truly look forward to creating with you.

~Rose