EDDA

 

FETISH: CANVAS

 

WHY THEY WANT THIS: The 2-dimensional canvas sat stiffly on the models, in elongated angles, meeting their skin on shoulders, waists and just below the knees. Designer Edda, who has recently graduated from London College of Fashion, used her non-dominant hand to etch the drawings out the off-white material, creating a 3-dimensional feel but solely through shading and contouring. Edda’s designs are a simulation of a 2-dimensional world through 3-dimensional bodies, making them quirky, unusual and out there. Edda’s designs stand out for being novelty-like and the lust that is created around novelty is the fact that it becomes a collector item – something not necessarily to wear, but to look at and to own.

 

WHAT IT DOES TO THEM: The ragged, unfinished-looking edges, the curls and bends of the the canvas and the elf-like, long curves of the canvas shoes almost makes the viewer feel like a part of a whimsical illustration. 

 

WHAT’S THE CLIMAX?: Edda’s looks are essentially looks to have but not to wear. The shoes were entirely impractical, no in height but in fabric and construction. A collector’s item, perfect for the display shelf – pretty, but not practical.

 

 

FENGYI TAN

 

FETISH: COTTON AND SILK WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SKIN

 

WHY THEY WANT THIS: Fengyi throws just the right about of deep blue, black and greys at you and just the right amount of skin, as well. The weather requires us to bundle up, but Tan’s show dared just the opposite. What stood out the most during her show was the constructed cut-out shapes that Fengyi strategically placed in areas around the collar bone and shoulders. Perfect for those who don’t want to cover up even in chilly weather.

 

WHAT IT DOES TO THEM: Tan’s basis of interaction with space and movement is clearly portrayed through the flowing texture of some of her designs. This is entirely unsurprising because her inspiration stems from movement and elasticity; focusing especially on the principle of dance and the anatomy. The body is amplified in Tan’s ensembles, instead of hidden away – but what is perhaps most evident about her creations is the looseness, freedom and subtle elegance of the silk on skin.

 

WHAT’S THE CLIMAX?: Though the message of experimentation and fluidity doesn’t immediately come across when you look at the clothes, Tan’s allure lies in her ability to negate material where most would think it belongs. A fitting celebration of the human form, not alone, but complemented by the right kinds of material; this is a skill that she has seamlessly mastered, pun very much intended.