Chelsea Rebelle to Reopen Following Fire
Sarah Brannon opened her Los Angeles store and clothing line Chelsea Rebelle in mid-2005 only to have the boutique and most of her inventory destroyed in a May 28 fire. The New Zealand native vowed that the disaster would not put her out of business, and on Nov. 4 she got a second chance.
With a $33,000 insurance payment and investments from friends, Brannon reopened the store at 735 N. La Brea Ave. and redesigned her debut line for Fall 2005. “I held back on the first line. I thought, ’I can’t do this or that, I have to be safe,’ ” Brannon said. But with her Fall line, she decided to take more risks.
Although many of the mod 1960s-style pieces of her initial 2005 collection were re-created, for the rest of the 30-piece line, she drew inspiration from one of the wildest periods of the 20th century, the decadent chic of 1930s Berlin. Brannon’s “Romper,” a $210 pinup girl–style bathing suit, was among pieces inspired by the showgirls of Berlin cabarets.
Creating the new line—including such designs as the “Peter Pan” shirt, a see-through silk blouse for $165—and rebuilding the store gave her confidence.
“I learned how to get things done a lot quicker,” Brannon said. “I needed to get my shop and my line together. This is my life.”
—Andrew Asch
