The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2025 - Issue 37

bitefashion I n Greek mythology, Sirens were creatures known for their captivating voices that lured sailors to their doom on rocky shores. They were typically depicted as women with the bodies of birds, though sometimes as mermaids. It is said they lived on a flowery island, surrounded by their vic- tims’ bones. In the Odyssey, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, Odysseus, avoided their deadly song by plugging his crew’s ears with wax and tied himself to the mast. Inspired by these archetypal mythological beings, Songs of Siren was founded by Los Ange- les-based Dutch designer Tinka Weener in December 2024. It creates garments celebrat- ing the essence of femininity. Each piece is designed to make women feel like the protagonists of their stories, empowering them to command attention and embrace their inner strength. However, they go beyond the traditional association of Sirens with destruction, suggesting their captivating nature can be influential. For a relevantly new brand, the founder debuted her first col- lection at the Fashion Crossover London Presents: The Rising Stars during London Fashion Week in February. “Even though I’d only launched my brand two months before, I was like, ‘OK, I have to do this.’” she told Fashionista. The former back- stage photographer has worked with Dutch designer Marlies Dekkers, freelance styled for Al- exander McQueen and recently freelanced for a fashion public relations agency in Los Angeles. Not satisfied with her econom- ics degree, Weener pursued her love of fashion with further degrees at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. Growing up, she would design and customise her clothing, but the motivation to officially launch her brand came from working alongside fashion designers on the PR side, some of whom encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Songs of Siren’s eye-catching garments feature intricate hand- beading and sculptural silhou- ettes. The collection comprises five mini dresses, one matching set, and three triangular bags embroidered with various astro- logical and aquatic motifs. The ultra-feminine and delicate Rose Blossoming Set in baby pink transports the wearer to English garden tea parties and endless summer days. The flattering hand-beading emphasises the curves. Inspired by the seductive bibli- cal serpent, the shimmering Serpent Dress in black releases the rebellious femme fatale siren within you. This sexy artisanal hand-beaded mini dress shows a jewel-toned snake offering a glittering red apple to whomever the wearer seeks to seduce. The midnight blue Zodiac Dress features some astrological signs adorned in delicate silver bead- ing. It has a sexy heart-shaped tassel slit that moves beautifully with every step taken. The embellished, hand-beaded Oceana Dress in ocean blue features shimmering sequins and beautiful details. The small pearls, magical deep sea-inspired beading, and the scalloped neckline will bring out the ethereal siren within you. With a flattering sun design on the waistline, the rust orange hand-beaded Eternal Sunshine Dress shimmers and glitters as you move around the dance floor, ensuring all eyes are on you alone. The Oceana Pyramid and Zodiac Pyramid Bags match the dresses, which are draped in luxurious, high-quality silk with buttery-soft nappa leather handles. The Serpent Pyramid Bag is fabricated entirely of buttery-soft nappa leather, fea- turing an artisanal hand-beaded jewel-toned snake on all sides. All three bags have a luxurious velvet lining and a handy card pocket inside. A longer strap is included to wear the bag cross- body or lower on the hips. The pieces are crafted by draw- ing the designs and producing the patterns before sending them to the atelier in India. Each garment is handcrafted and hand-beaded by local artisans and returned to the designer to conduct fittings for any precise alterations. Weener experienced this high-end couture crafts- manship at Alexander McQueen and wanted to replicate this ex- pertise at Songs of Sirens. “Every piece takes so long to make, so I think that makes Songs of Siren stand out as the quality is incredibly high.” Songs of Siren’s first campaign, shot by Dutch photographer Dion Bal and creative directed by Indiana Voss, featured models clad in Songs of Siren’s shimmering garments falling backwards into an indoor pool in Amsterdam. Another cam- paign shows a model cheekily disrupting a King’s Guard in London, dancing around him and licking his face. “Of course, fashion is a serious business, but I also want to approach things [funnily and humorously],” she admitted to Fashionista. Weener hopes to participate in another fashion week soon. Meanwhile, she will continue working on expanding her product range with new shapes, different bag designs, and other designs based on the brand’s theme and religious motifs. We look forward to seeing more exciting endeavours from the designer. https://songsofsiren.com