…or is missoni looking to vintage pucci for inspiration? image above: pucci ss/1964
frankly, i was surprised to see this especially since missoni is such an established house with a very distinctive take on prints.
well, as we all know, there is nothing new under the sun and we do look to the past and each other for inspiration. i was just surprised to see it taken this literally…
…dutch wax prints!
i have just been turned on by the most amazing textile design house ever! vlisco hollandais is a dutch wax print company that has been around since 1846 and is inarguably the best west african print product available for well to do african consumers. their handling of color is unmistakably bold, sophisticated, and most definitely outside of the box yet they are careful to tie back to west africa’s traditional heritage in textiles.
they do four collections a year with february of 2012 being their latest release entitled “silent empire”:
these fabrics in the new and archived collections leave me at a complete loss for words to describe the visual impact and energy they exude. i love the styling with references to eastern influences which tie in amazingly well with the strong flow of the patterns. these prints express so much strength and glamor that any woman could easily command all eyes when entering a room.
the sewn pieces themselves are sick to say the least but alas, vlisco only sells yardage not garments and collaborate with designers to create for their collections. while there aren’t many stockists carrying african designers in the u.s., you can still shop on-line boutiques like my asho who carry jewel by lisa, heritage 1960 who carried j label the diffusion line by lisa folawiyo and agnes & lola.
…now available on etsy!
i’ve been very productive this past week and am uploading additional product in new colorways to my etsy shop! these two pillows are in the island color combo. they’re also available in spice, acid and versailles.
i’ve also been working furiously on new prints and i can’t wait to get my hot little hands on the proof so i can get to work on new product! you can catch a sneak preview below. i’ll also be adding travel bags and envelope clutches to the mix soon so please check back!
india floral in rouge bloom
rosetta in liberty
i’m so excited about these, especially the rosetta print because it is so indicative of my childhood! i distinctly remember having a dress in this colorway although not the print. it’s like seeing a certain color combo unlocks all of these memories and suddenly i’m reminded of how deeply your past influences everything you do. i am determined to make myself a shirt dress with the rosetta fabric in the liberty colorway. i may need a little help but i’ve got to have it!
…becomes deeper in meaning with peruvian artist, cecilia paredes.
being a lover of pattern and texture, i admire paredes’ correlation between them and camouflage. as portrayed in these pictures, she painstakingly recreates the textures in paint on her limbs and body making her secondary to the wallpaper’s vibrant colors.
you can check out her website here: ceciliaparedes.com
christmas came very early this year as my partner lit my love of print with the gift of the limited edition, PUCCI: by taschen! the cover is made from fabric, comes in several sumptuous prints and shades and is blessed with an acetate dust jacket to keep it clean.
i can imagine what it must have been like to go through their archives, the sketches and photos. that kind of an experience is inspiring and i’ve certainly been turned on by this compilation. it’s a beautiful timeline of the marquis of barsento, emilio pucci and his definitive legacy of feminine leisurewear told in brilliant hues.
Some of my favorites:
this boldly beautiful dress is absolutely heart stopping!!
this book is the bomb diggity for any designer, textile artist or lover of fashion! they’re limited so don’t sleep on it too long!
images from the book PUCCI available here at taschen.
using my design skills for the forces of good!
