You’ve probably seen them. Those boxy, colorful jackets that look like they were snatched straight off a guest bed in a 1920s farmhouse. They’re everywhere now, from the backs of A-list celebrities at the Met Gala to the narrow streets of Lower Manhattan. But if you think Emily Adams Bode Aujla is just another designer riding a vintage trend, you’re missing the point. Honestly, she didn't just join the conversation; she changed the entire language of what we wear.
It’s kinda wild to think that ten years ago, the idea of wearing a 19th-century horse-show blanket as a high-end blazer would’ve felt like a niche art project. Today, it’s the pinnacle of luxury.
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Who is Emily Adams Bode Aujla?
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Emily didn't follow the typical "intern at a big house and then copy their homework" path. She grew up around antiques. Her family were connoisseurs of the old and the weird. This wasn't just hobbyist stuff; it was a deep-seated appreciation for the domestic history of the United States.
She eventually moved to New York to study a dual degree at Parsons and Eugene Lang. Menswear and philosophy. It’s a combination that explains a lot about her work. She isn't just making pants; she’s asking why we care about the things we keep.
In 2016, she launched her namesake brand, Bode. (Pro tip: It’s pronounced BOH-dee, like the surfer, not bode like an omen).
She started by literally making one-of-a-kind jackets out of antique quilts in her apartment. No massive factories. No mood boards full of "cool" photos. Just her, some old fabric, and a sewing machine. Fast forward a few years, and she’s the first female designer to show at New York Fashion Week: Men’s. She’s winning back-to-back CFDA awards for Menswear Designer of the Year. It’s been a meteoric rise, but it feels incredibly slow and intentional.
The Power Couple of Design
You can't really talk about Emily without mentioning her husband, Aaron Aujla. He’s the co-founder of the furniture firm Green River Project. They’re basically the first family of the "New Heritage" aesthetic.
When they got married at their home, they designed almost everything themselves. Emily did the clothes—including lobster bibs for the guests—and Aaron worked on the environment. This partnership is why every Bode store feels like a lived-in library or a mid-century hotel lobby. They aren't just selling you a shirt; they are building a world where objects have souls.
The Magic of the Antique Textile
What makes a piece from Emily Adams Bode Aujla so different? It’s the material.
Most fashion brands start with a sketch and then find the fabric. Emily does the opposite. She finds a 1920s French bed linen, a Victorian-era lace, or a stack of "Senior Cords" from a Midwestern high school in the 50s. The fabric tells her what it wants to be.
- Quilting: The bread and butter of the brand. Using actual vintage quilts means no two jackets are identical.
- Appliqué and Mending: She leans into the "female-centric" history of domestic craft. Things that were historically done by women in the home—mending, embroidering, patching—are given the spotlight in luxury menswear.
- Storytelling: Every collection is based on a specific person or memory. One season might be about her uncle’s attic; another (the SS26 collection) honors the memory of Moose Charlap, a Broadway composer.
It’s a bit of a middle finger to fast fashion. While everyone else is trying to be "new," she is obsessed with the "old." But it doesn’t feel like a costume. It feels like you’re wearing a story.
Why the "Bode Look" Actually Works
Basically, she tapped into a collective desire for something real. In a world of digital perfection and polyester blends, people are hungry for texture.
The silhouettes are often boxy and forgiving. It’s a sort of "boyish" charm that translates perfectly to womenswear too, which she officially launched a couple of years ago. Before the official women's line, girls were already buying the men's stuff in smaller sizes anyway. It’s genderless in the way that a good heirloom is genderless. It belongs to whoever loves it.
The 2024-2025 Evolution: Bode Recreation
Recently, we’ve seen her expand into more "accessible" territory—well, accessible for a luxury brand. Bode Recreation is her take on vintage American athletic wear.
Think 1940s gym shorts, heavy cotton jerseys, and varsity-style jackets. It’s still rooted in history, but it’s meant for everyday life. She even did a massive collaboration with Nike that had people lining up for sneakers that looked like they’d been sitting in a gym locker since 1972. It was a huge moment because it proved her aesthetic could scale without losing its heart.
Is It Worth the Price Tag?
Let's be real: Bode is expensive. You're looking at $500 for a shirt and easily $1,500+ for a jacket.
People often ask why. Here’s the thing: you aren't paying for a logo. You’re paying for the labor of sourcing 100-year-old textiles that don't exist anymore. You’re paying for hand-embroidery that takes days.
There’s a sustainability angle here that most brands just greenwash. Emily’s whole philosophy is that the most sustainable thing you can do is "adore and cherish" a piece of clothing so much that you never throw it away. You’re basically a steward for a piece of history. When you buy a quilted jacket, you’re buying something that was already 50 years old when it was made, and it’ll probably last another 50 if you treat it right.
How to Get the Look (Without Breaking the Bank)
If you're not ready to drop a month's rent on a jacket, there are ways to lean into the Emily Adams Bode Aujla vibe.
- Go Antiquing: Look for textiles, not just clothes. Old tablecloths, embroidered linens, or even well-worn workwear can be the start of your own "Bode" journey.
- Learn to Mend: The brand celebrates the "visible repair." Instead of throwing out a shirt with a hole, patch it with a contrasting fabric. Use a colorful thread. Make the "flaw" the best part of the garment.
- Think in Layers: The Bode aesthetic is all about textures clashing. A lace shirt under a heavy wool vest. A silk scarf with a denim jacket.
- Buy Secondhand: Since the clothes are built to last, the resale market for Bode is actually pretty robust. Look for pieces that have a bit of wear—it only adds to the character.
Emily Adams Bode Aujla hasn't just built a brand; she’s created a community of people who look at their clothes as more than just fabric. They’re artifacts. In 2026, where everything feels increasingly temporary, there is something deeply grounding about wearing something that remembers the past.
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Next Steps for the Budding Collector: Start by visiting a flagship store if you're in New York or LA. The interiors—designed by Aaron and the Green River Project team—are half the experience. Even if you don't buy anything, just feeling the weight of the hand-spun Indian textiles or seeing the detail of a 19th-century appliqué up close will change how you look at the clothes in your own closet. Once you see the "soul" in the fabric, it's hard to go back to basic mall clothes.