Buy Less, Choose Well

February 19, 2019

Vivienne Westwood revolutionized the runway into a politically-charged protest as she showcased her F/W ’19 collection at London Fashion Week yesterday. The collection, cunningly titled “Homo Loquax” or the Chattering Man, is Westwood’s artful pinch at the human condition to talk and talk away with no change in sight—an all-bark-no-bite type of conundrum. And with models, activists and actors like Rose McGowan leading the rally down the catwalk against climate change, mass consumerism and Brexit, the British designer had one clear message for us all: seven billion people are being lied to by their governments, and now is finally the time to “tell children the truth.”

And telling the unfiltered and renegade truth is exactly what Homo Loquax accomplished on Sunday. With the collection, Westwood jabbed her middle fingers up high against the proletariat, sending models down the runway in ironically royal corsets and heavily deconstructed fits of ripped, hand-painted fabrics and a tidal wave of tweed. Through hot flashes of regal reds and famously-British neutrals, bleached jeans and micro-sized kilts, protest t-shirts and draped gowns, the collection dovetailed London punk rebellion with modern non-violent protest.

Text by Antoripa Dey

The show’s location was no random choice, either. Held at a church in Westminster’s St. John Smith’s Square, Westwood picked her spot just a step away from the day’s nonviolent climate protests against London Fashion Week, led by environmental action group Extinction Rebellion. And Westwood protested just the same, her collection ringing with urgency and a call for the rebirth of culture. For the British designer, “if we had culture we would not be in this mess, the world would be in harmony, our ethos would be peace."

Viva la revolution de Vivienne Westwood.

Photos courtesy of Vivienne Westwood.

Fashion

Total Recall

Born in the Moroccan town of Tétouan and educated in Paris, Khattabi’s upbringing required him to make sense of how the different influences surrounding him could align. In turn, his designs explore the embedded codes and history of his bicultural background. Total Recall addresses this phenomon by including garments meant to reflect adaptation and transformation. Skirts made of tire covers and motorcyle tarpaulins refashioned into dresses are scattered across the collection, conveying notions of displacement. Blending these elements adds an industrial touch to the pieces while still keeping a sense of movement.

From sweatpants infused with polka dots to nostaglic slogans and banner display, the ensembles symbolize hidden identities and memories. Giving us a glimpse into his own memories, Khattabi's work evokes affection for the past. It's a nod to the interconnectedness of culture and how we interact with its complexitites creatively. View the collection below.

reward if found is available at LN-CC, 10 Corso Como, Gr8, Opener, and more selected retailers globally.

Fashion

Fear of God Essentials Holiday 2024 Collection

Fashion

Dr. Martens x MM6 Maison Margiela reveal their first capsule collection

November 12, 2024

Dr. Martens and MM6 Maison Margiela have teamed up for the first time to launch a Fall/Winter capsule collection that reinvents classic footwear with a fresh twist. The collection combines four iconic Dr. Martens styles—the 1460 and 1490 boots, the 1461 shoe, and the Penton loafer—into three unique hybrid designs, each with MM6’s special touch.

Revealed at MM6 Maison Margiela’s AW24 show, these designs mix familiar Dr. Martens silhouettes in surprising ways, adding bold new details. Each piece has Dr. Martens’ signature yellow stitching and AirWair heel loop, along with MM6’s unique numbered imprint.

The Dr. Martens x MM6 Maison Margiela collection launches November 19 on both brands’ websites, in select MM6 stores, and at limited retailers.