It's quite impressive how an eclectic collection of
contemporary clothing can be inspired by indulging
in idleness. Edward Curtis is a young British student
with a BA (Hons) in womenswear fashion design &
technology from London College of Fashion and
enough leisure to practice his art: he spent last summer
idling away his days in the countryside doing nothing
but watching daytime TV and lying in bed, nonetheless
he created his 'We Raphaelites' range of clothes.
contemporary clothing can be inspired by indulging
in idleness. Edward Curtis is a young British student
with a BA (Hons) in womenswear fashion design &
technology from London College of Fashion and
enough leisure to practice his art: he spent last summer
idling away his days in the countryside doing nothing
but watching daytime TV and lying in bed, nonetheless
he created his 'We Raphaelites' range of clothes.
”Being idle (as in lazy) was the catalyst for how I would
approach this collection. Hid away in the British countryside
last summer, I embraced this idyllic way of living. I also
realised I wasn't the only one, too...” Edward wrote in
the collection's press realease. Comparing his indolent
mood to more historical times led him to the painters of
the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, the group of English
artists including Hunt, Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti
who consciously sought to emulate the stark simplicity
of Italian artists before the time of Raphael.
approach this collection. Hid away in the British countryside
last summer, I embraced this idyllic way of living. I also
realised I wasn't the only one, too...” Edward wrote in
the collection's press realease. Comparing his indolent
mood to more historical times led him to the painters of
the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, the group of English
artists including Hunt, Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti
who consciously sought to emulate the stark simplicity
of Italian artists before the time of Raphael.
”They often captured this state of wonder and tranquilllity
in their paintings of everyday people in their natural
in their paintings of everyday people in their natural
surrounding”, he adds also mentioning the series of
photographs by New York born Argentinian Magnum
Photos member Alessandra Sanguinetti bearing the
same magic and mystery, 'The Adventures of Guille and
Belinda and the Enigmatic Meaning of Their Dreams'.
Photos member Alessandra Sanguinetti bearing the
same magic and mystery, 'The Adventures of Guille and
Belinda and the Enigmatic Meaning of Their Dreams'.
”The way I approach a collection is a combination of
haphazard experiments, putting an emphasis on using
my imagination, but also I can control it. For instance
I enjoy simplicity just as much as I enjoy maximalist,
these elements mainly stay separate, but through colour
and technique, they start to merge, such as the how
every seam is sewn together...” Curtis explains.
haphazard experiments, putting an emphasis on using
my imagination, but also I can control it. For instance
I enjoy simplicity just as much as I enjoy maximalist,
these elements mainly stay separate, but through colour
and technique, they start to merge, such as the how
every seam is sewn together...” Curtis explains.
”With this mood, I began creating images, by mark
making with chalks, paints and playing around with fabric.
I continued with this approach all the way through,
deciding colours as I went along. This sporadic way of
working is reflected in the garments. Some capture this
more literally than others; by the way the empty shell
of a garment has been decorated with rolls of organza
and prints. In others, this is more subtle, and found
only in the stitching using a Victorian embroidery
stitch” he declares to Showtime, the University of
making with chalks, paints and playing around with fabric.
I continued with this approach all the way through,
deciding colours as I went along. This sporadic way of
working is reflected in the garments. Some capture this
more literally than others; by the way the empty shell
of a garment has been decorated with rolls of organza
and prints. In others, this is more subtle, and found
only in the stitching using a Victorian embroidery
stitch” he declares to Showtime, the University of
the Arts London's online gallery featuring
up-and-coming artists and designers.
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