A Utopia Engineered For You: LOVERBOY FW23
Delivered in three acts, “The Engine Room” introduces the audience to Jeffrey's mythical world of Ajuka and the inhabitants that keep the city afloat - the Workers, Posers and Snakes. First we meet the Workers. Bedecked in warm layers, protective gear and reworked staples, their outfits reflect the arduous conditions they endure. Unexpected embellishments recall the trinkets made by magpie-eyed mudlarkers, highlighting the Workers’ ingenuity in the face of adversity. Part two introduces us to the Posers, former workers who now set the sartorial agenda in Ajuka, populating the city’s many luxury boutiques. Sleek tailoring, oversized ruffles and ornate prints characterise their clothing, alongside fearsome, claw-footed footwear. Finally, we meet the Snakes, Ajuka’s arch gossip merchants who disseminate the city’s news. Their uniform is heavily influenced by the tools of their trade and their medium of choice – the newspaper.