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Making its debut this spring, Strong & Dickerson is a clothing line that was created with the modern woman in mind — both edgy and hardworking. Rooted in structured bottoms and jackets, as well as accent pieces to render a balance, the label's spring/summer 2011 collection is ready to work its way into the essentials section of every woman's closet.

Designer Heidi Kim is the brains behind the brand, deciding to bring it to life after she moved from New York to the West Coast. Before her move, she held top design posts at labels such as Armani Exchange and Rock and Republic.

"There's a great entrepreneurial spirit in Los Angeles, and being here just made me feel that starting my own label was kind of inevitable," says Kim.

While Kim's work with other trendsetting brands has undoubtedly influenced her own line, Strong & Dickerson's inaugural collection has an aesthetic that is all its own. Described as a bit androgynous, the collection is inspired by early 20th-century explorers and travelers, featuring equestrian and work-wear detailing.

"I think androgyny is sexy," says Kim. "The confidence and modern sexiness of a woman is emphasized even more by masculine clothing. But that's not to say that there is nothing soft and feminine in the collection — there is. But they have an edge."

Some of the collection's standout pieces include a directional, lambskin, high-waisted, pleated pant, a classic trench dress with a cut-out to reveal an open back, and a washed cotton herringbone cape with leather trim and utility pockets. "Trapunto stitching, which is parallel stitching one-quarter to one-half inch apart, appears repeatedly throughout the collection," says Kim.

"It's a design detail that I associate with military uniforms, martial arts uniforms and traditional oriental clothing," she adds. "I was inspired by the combination of the ethnic with utilitarian details."

Though Kim's current designs bring masculinity into the mix, they are for women, but that could soon change. She said future plans for the brand include a men's collection, as well as accessories. She would also love to open stores that sell Strong & Dickerson exclusively, but for now her designs will be sold at retailers like Intermix, Saks, Revolve and Oak.

Based in Venice, Calif., Strong & Dickerson is named after a pair of developers who built the only canals in the Southern California city that managed to avoid being filled in during the Great Depression to cut costs.

"I love the combination of old and new, antique and modern, the past and the future," she says. "I think the name Strong & Dickerson is evocative of that sense of history, and I hope the brand always has a feeling of a favorite piece of clothing — well-worn and well-loved, yet feels new and modern."

stronganddickerson.com