London Fashion Week - Feb 2011 reflected the usual quirky, cutting-edge collections that it is known for. Creativity was bursting at the banks of the river Thames. The Goldsmith's and St Martin's fashionistas were out in full force banging down the door of every show.
Fashion Thirst always features a catwalk review on PROPHETIK designs by Jeff Garner from Tennessee in America. Jeff's designs are not only unpredictable and thought-provoking but they promote sustainability and ECO Fashion. His Artist Wonderment designs started with the statement "Renaissance is not a rebirth as one implies" . We then saw footage of Jeff presenting natural dying processes on-screen. His main theme for this year was the awareness of how clothes are REALLY being produced which got us thinking. Jeff Garner is promoting a fashion lifestyle brand not just a collection.
The lights flashed and up came the curtain we were expecting another DJ reminiscent of 2010 but this time round he had Analiza Ching, a violinist playing Vivaldi's winter. We also heard Benjamin Elin's ochestra in the background. Music to our ears !
Garner's creativity all came from recycled, organic material. The quilted coats reminded us of Joseph and his Technicolour coat, the pastel patchwork comprised of symmetrical shapes and this particular one had pleated shoulder flaps. The quilts are 150 years old and were passed down from great grandma Lola of Tennessee. The dress that got the crowds chattering was a hand sewn, white silk gown with ostrich feathers on white organza. This floor-lenght floating dress could be worn at a futuristic wedding, it projected sheer simplicity; as if to say the over consumption, egotistical consumerism of the bling era is finally over and we as the human race are reaching back to the basics, back to the very foundations of simplicity, we will live as we once lived. We will revive the renaissance. This was clearly all about recycling material and clothes; handing down favourites from generation to generation, passing them on with sentimentality. Sustaining the earth by using naturally grown silk and cotton. Natural dyeing as opposed to mass factory production. The lady modelling this dress looked angelic we couldn't help but think this angel was there overlooking Jeff's great grandma Lola may she rest in peace. Life is about rebirth.
Review/Critique by Monica Cummings, Ba Hons., MA - Chief Editor at FashionThirst (Quenching your thirst for fashion)
"