This London Collections: Men's fashion week, the lovely style blogger SUSIE BUBBLE reports, just for OC!
"This is the story of all working class dads out there, who worked like bastards to provide us with a happy upbringing," said Joe Bates, one third of knitwear trio Sibling, which showed its intimately personal––and probably most tender––collection yet, "Hands Like Spades and a Heart Full of Love". Bates spoke specifically about his dad, a technical engineer, going to work every day. "It’s a love letter to my dad and dads like him who grafted. You take it for granted as a child, and then when you grow up you realize what heroes they are. Laboriously, day after day, they do repetitive, dull, and tedious work."
The designers saluted the dockers, miners, engineers, steelworkers, and other thankless workers in industries that are sadly fading away, with a collection that put a happy spin on inky black knits evoking tarmac, coal, and the shimmer of oil. Hand darned denim––an ode to Bates’ mother, who worked as an invisible mender in the garment industry––complimented the chunky cable knits, which really came into their own when tufted with berry and royal blue stripes. Sibling also referenced the lovespoon, a traditional trinket that men would carve out when courting their crushes, so motifs of horseshoes, hearts, wheels, and crosses were worked into a central print.
This Quality Street depiction of the working class was strengthened by displays of handwork traditions like lace pieces appliquéd onto sweaters and crocheted blankets draped over the shoulders. These charming touches, along with the big smiles on the models’ faces were enough to make you go "Awwwwww…" at what felt like an intimately personal show. Morrissey’s patriotic lyrics in "Irish Blood, English Heart" were the fitting musical accompaniment to this love letter to grafters.
Photos by Mafalda Silva | E-mail ONLINE@OPENINGCEREMONY.US to be notified once the Fall/Winter 2014 collection hits OC!
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"This is the story of all working class dads out there, who worked like bastards to provide us with a happy upbringing," said Joe Bates, one third of knitwear trio Sibling, which showed its intimately personal––and probably most tender––collection yet, "Hands Like Spades and a Heart Full of Love". Bates spoke specifically about his dad, a technical engineer, going to work every day. "It’s a love letter to my dad and dads like him who grafted. You take it for granted as a child, and then when you grow up you realize what heroes they are. Laboriously, day after day, they do repetitive, dull, and tedious work."
The designers saluted the dockers, miners, engineers, steelworkers, and other thankless workers in industries that are sadly fading away, with a collection that put a happy spin on inky black knits evoking tarmac, coal, and the shimmer of oil. Hand darned denim––an ode to Bates’ mother, who worked as an invisible mender in the garment industry––complimented the chunky cable knits, which really came into their own when tufted with berry and royal blue stripes. Sibling also referenced the lovespoon, a traditional trinket that men would carve out when courting their crushes, so motifs of horseshoes, hearts, wheels, and crosses were worked into a central print.
This Quality Street depiction of the working class was strengthened by displays of handwork traditions like lace pieces appliquéd onto sweaters and crocheted blankets draped over the shoulders. These charming touches, along with the big smiles on the models’ faces were enough to make you go "Awwwwww…" at what felt like an intimately personal show. Morrissey’s patriotic lyrics in "Irish Blood, English Heart" were the fitting musical accompaniment to this love letter to grafters.
Photos by Mafalda Silva | E-mail ONLINE@OPENINGCEREMONY.US to be notified once the Fall/Winter 2014 collection hits OC!
