Mary Katrantzou: Arts and Crafts 2.0
Of all the ready to wear collections, Fall 2015's most accurate presentation of today's youth culture creative vibe was displayed on pink-foam covered runway from the great Mary Katrantzou.
The clothing combined the opposing forces of the Victorian age and of our hyper-modern digital society, which resulted in couture quality pieces tailored for the every day. The Victorian elements referenced specifically to the arts and crafts movement as seen by the rich ornamental patterns and organic shapes printed upon coats and dresses most decorative. Don’t you see these patterns being used for wallpaper, carpets, drapes, or upholstery?
The Arts and crafts movement is described aesthetically as somewhat medieval, poetic, and influenced predominantly by nature. What began in the late 1800’s, it was a counter movement to a world altering at the hands of the industrial revolution with all it’s soul-less machinery and factory systems. Traditional skills and values were being lost and the effects on nature and human relationships were seen as detrimental and unnatural. SO.
We fast forward about 120 years and are we not in that same place now, but in the digital revolution? We are placed even further away from nature and “tradition” due to our relationships with social media, instant access to information, and McDonaldization of… everything. The youth of today, well many us of the Generation Y and Z, are longing for the value added, real craftsmanship triggered by passion, and quality which is good, and does good (sustainability and fighting climate change are biggies).
Check out Blake Lively's online store to see what I mean at Preserve.
Mary gets this. She sees it and creates a glorious juxtaposition of the dated and the sci-fi, the maximalist prints and purist shaping, the organic prints with acidic colors. Just like me and my friends I suppose (who on our iPads) pin, tweet, ‘gram and ‘book “special” products not "Made in China" or clothing which costs less than a cappuccino, but the cool brands who create momentum from their imagination and inspiration- not profit margins.
The Greek native hit the mirrored nail on the head of society, reflecting the values of the creative youth in a manner of respecting the Horror Vacui and of William Morris (who is probably shaking a tail feather from above, seeing his arts and crafts work is still relevant and more importantly very in fashion).
