ORLA KIELY S/S '16
VALENTINO S/S '16 Vs. FUR
F A SH I O N C O M M U N I C A T I O N
Orla Kiely took us all for a dream- like stroll down a mini golf course at London fashion week. The models romantically wandered aside golf ball cake pops and a Bart Bacharach “mash up”, whilst onlookers were transported to a time that fashion was carefree and fun. The entire collection looked as though it had been plucked from the 70’s, with its jam-packed prints, chunky wooden platforms and flowy shift dresses with a structured pop of white collars, providing a perfectly refreshing and balanced juxtaposition of classic nostalgia meets vibrancy and a handful of young energy.
Kiely’s instinctive graphic discipline to simplify and stylise everyday motifs such as naturalistic elements and forms adds an entirely new dimension to her collection. The clever colour choices of mustards, pale pinks and evergreen’s scattered throughout the collection emphasise Kiely’s infatuation of mid-century dreams. Coupled with her nostalgia for aristocratic charm, that instantly makes her pieces recognisable. Her work manages to encompass strength and modernity for the emerging woman.
Known for her undeniable love for pattern, colour, texture and rhythm, Kiely orchestrated the most, poignantly, beautiful nonchalant show for her S/S’ 16 collection. Models walked in a blaze manner down the golf course inspired runway, reminding the audience of the sweet 70’s and all its exploration of freedom.
It is no surprise that the demand for all things unattainable, (morality and social conduct kept aside) is what, in many ways, keeps “fashion” going. “Unattainable” meaning things that are not ours, that do not belong to us, nor are our responsibility to tamper with.
Nature. Animals. Earth. All of it. None of it.
However, contraire to this belief, fashion consumers increasing demand for animal skin, from many areas of the world, are predominantly at blame for the gradual extinction of a number of species. In particular, according to the “International Union for the Conservation of Nature” the number of leopards within Africa is rapidly depreciating mainly due to this trade. The opposing argument we have all heard, of only using skin or fur that has been extracted from animals that have already deceased also fails to hold any value. Whether the fur comes from Chinese fur farms, Indian slaughterhouses or the Australian outback, an immeasurable amount of suffering goes into every fur-trimmed jacket, leather belt and wool sweater.
An unanswered thought of mine has always been whether or not consumers of immoral trades ever question or delve deeper into thinking what animals are put through in order for them to be “best dressed” at Marc Jacobs after party. Do they consider the never-ending consequences of disrupting nature? Is the need for fur or exotic skins truly for themselves or is it to climb the social ladder in order to attain recognition of some kind? If the motives become clear, perhaps we have a chance at educating, informing and maybe, just maybe, altering the mind-set of where the power ultimately lies, fashions elite.