An offset of her couture fashion label, London-based designer Milena has embarked on a side project called "At the Tree House," referring to her collection of graphic tees. "I started 'At the Tree House' because I wanted to channel my passion for graphics into a separate project other than 'Milena.,'" explains the designer. From the tallest bough of the tallest tree, "At the Treehouse" redefines our perception of high fashion (haute couture). If anything, Milena shows us that it is perfectly acceptable to incorporate casual with couture.

With "At the Tree House," Milena branches out, steering clear of the quintessential graphic tee (you know, the one containing a cheeky slogan or saying). Her tees successfully make a statement without having to spell it out. Milena's unique method of dyeing (a process referred to as industrial garment dyeing) gives each t-shirt a distressed appearance: "as though it's been worn for years," says the designer. The depictions on the printed tees are not simply graphics; they are illustrations of life and love. The "Prisoner of Love" tee depicts a woeful woman held captive by her love for another. Whether or not this is a self-imposed state of captivity is not immediately apparent; however, Milena clarifies that she is intended to be a parody character, a caricature of every woman. The graphic on the "Holding Hands" tee is of interlocking hands forming a heart shape. The print, which is borrowed from a collage of her own creation, has poignant sentimental value to Milena. In fact, all of the graphic tees in the "At the Tree House" collection carry great significance to the designer. "The link between the prints for the summer collection is a sentiment of love for people around me, they are almost like illustrations for a period of my life," says Milena. When one slips into a Milena tee, the tee then takes on a new meaning - one that is specific to the wearer.