The Book Fair, the MELKE spring summer 2025 collection, takes us back to the nostalgic world of the Scholastic Book Fair. Continuing in theme with designer Emma Gage’s carefree joy and childlike wonder, The Book Fair captures the anticipation of many of our favorite days in school: the book fair. From haggling with your parents for cash to buy the bendy erasers or ostrich pens, to waiting in line for the most recent installment in The Pony Pals series, Emma’s personal favorite, The Book Fair travels back in time and into the wonderful world books created for us as children. This collection focuses on the whimsical stories created in our childhood, reminding us we’re never too old to daydream.

Touches of soft tailoring, through the use of relaxed silhouettes, harness the fluidity of feminine and masculine silhouettes. Pleating and button down’s are a subtle nod to the uniform Gage wore all throughout middle school and highschool. Structured cottons, supple wools, and soft silks, are adorned with whimsical details, yet grounded by the wearable fabrics.

Details explode through No. 2 pencils made into fringe, leaping horses, and rope used to emulate the classic bendy erasers. An ode to the book fair, each motif references a favorite book or memory from.

MELKE’s The Book Fair balances nostalgia and joy, focusing on the importance of disconnecting and delving into a good book.

Photo Credit: Kenzie King