10/21/08 - Of Australian origin, but living between NYC and Paris, Matthew Ames has consolidated his career as a designer who steers clear of the norms of the system. However, his coveted collections have captivated the most select clients in Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman...

Born in Melbourne in 1966, Matthew Ames is one of those designers who goes relatively unnoticed, while his collections enjoy huge success in luxury stores like Bergdorf Goodman.

After his surprising success as a designer in the late 80s, Matthew decided to begin his architectural studies at Melbourne's Victorian College of Arts. In 1991, he moved to London, where he became a member of Koji Tatsumo's team, in the hope of improving his design knowledge.

His multidisciplinary, nomadic style brought him to Paris in 1992, where he established his first atelier. From there, he distributed garments to markets like Japan and the U.S. Ames decided to try to channel his work in an alternative direction, steering clear of the system and only showing his collections to a select group of clients.

His style encompasses simple lines, a passion for tailoring and for details, timeless shapes and typical French elegance.

In 2003, Ames managed to captivate brands like Neiman Marcus, Barneys and Berdorf Goodman, stores he ended up doing exclusive collections for.

Today, his coveted collections and artistic exhibitions see him travelling between Paris and New York, cities where he has consolidated a successful independent career in the fashion world.