Inspiration

26.09.11

Spring Summer 2012 Inspiration

For Spring Summer 2012, Matthew continued with the notion of subtle, Japanese influences, found at the heart of the pre-collection.  The starting point came in particular from Japanese textiles, ceramics and antique heirlooms.

This season, juicy tones of slub silk are softly tailored into longer-line, relaxed separates. Dresses, shorts and skirts are folded and draped into paired back daytime options, whilst sand washed silks provide for a more linear elegance.  Eveningwear consists of floor-trailing silk column gowns in hothouse hues of saffron, chili red, and citrus yellow, with intricate displays of cut work lace, tufted ostrich feathers, bursts of hand painted metal sequins, and rich, dense appliqué.

Stylized prints are at the core of the collection and this season they come highly worked. Beautiful blossom prints are combined with scenes from the Tokyo skyline, achieving the signature juxtaposition of natural and synthetic elements. Other blossom prints are computer generated and distorted in such a way that they begin to take on an ikat graphic.  It was this idea that led Matthew to research the work of British artist, Mat Collishaw, feted for his arresting digital imagery, and as a result the third print in the collection takes on a more abstract display of form and colour.