April News Roundup
1.
Any Denverite reading this newsletter should be well acquainted with Florence Müller, the former Avenir Foundation Curator of Textile Art and Fashion at the Denver Art Museum and curator of the Dior exhibit. Now Müller has teamed up with Dolce & Gabbana for a retrospective of the design team’s work. Entitled "Dal cuore alle mani: Dolce & Gabbana" (From Heart to Hands), the exhibit features the duo’s Italian haute couture work from its Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria workshops. In addition to showcasing the craftsmanship of its artisans and couturiers, the exhibition also highlights the cultural influences that have inspired Dolce & Gabbana’s work, from architecture to opera. One of the rooms is even adorned with hand-painted ceramic tiles from Sicily as a tribute to Domenico Dolce's upbringing on the island and its influence on him. The exhibition is on at the Palazzo Reale in Milan through July 31st. To read more about the show and the inspiration behind it, click here.
Dolce and Gabbana show at Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2019/20.
2.
Kostas Murkudis is a Berlin-based designer with his own namesake brand, who began his career as the first assistant to Helmut Lang. Murkudis, who designs both menswear and womenswear, has teamed up with German leather goods brand Tsatsas to create garments and bags that pair and contrast natural calfskin with delicate French lace. The minimalist designs feature raw edges and clean shapes, but the real stars are the impeccable skill and attention to detail, particularly in pieces that combine lace and leather. It's a perfect fusion of two distinct styles and exceptional craftsmanship. To read about the collaboration, click here, and to see the collection, click here.
3.
One of my favorite designers working today is Yusuke Takahashi of CFCL (Clothes for Contemporary Life). Takahashi’s innovative approach to fashion design is heavily influenced by his time at Issey Miyake, where he was the head designer of menswear. Now that Takahashi is leading his own brand, his mission is to create simple and comfortable, yet sophisticated clothes through embracing sustainability and technology. This interview gives greater insight into Takahashi’s design processes and philosophy, as well as the materials he uses and his love for Paris.
4.
Schiaparelli designer Daniel Roseberry sent models down the Fall 2024 runways wearing hair ties – literally ties made from hair. It’s a fitting design homage for a house known for its founder’s love of Surrealism. The hair ties were crafted in both blonde and brunette hues and were tonally paired with outfits depending on their color, the one exception being a denim look with a blonde hair tie. To learn more about the Surrealist fascination with hair as a working material, as well as the contemporary artists who inspired the tie idea, click here.
Issey Miyake show at Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2019.
5.
Issey Miyake brought the idea of personalization to customers long before the current industry obsession with customization. In 1998, Miyake launched A-POC, which stands for “A Piece of Cloth,” and revolutionized fashion by integrating the creation process from thread to garment with the participation of the wearer. This month, the Japanese brand is launching A-POC ABLE Issey Miyake at their New York boutique. Led by designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae, A-POC ABLE has enhanced the interactivity and personalization of the garment making. It's a great example of a brand emphasizing sustainability and garment personalization, while integrating technology and craftsmanship. To read about the New York launch of A-POC ABLE, click here, and to read more about the line itself and see images of the garments and the Kyoto boutique, click here.
Dolce & Gabbana and Issey Miyake images courtesy of FashionStock.com / Shutterstock
