SMITH-WYKES Spring/Summer 2014

SMITH- WYKES looks to reinterpret an outsiders perspective on Japanese design as seen through 1960‘s film, fashion and architecture. Inspiration is taken from Japanese influences from this classic decade of style, suggesting an encounter of old crafts, textural shapes and sharp modernity.

The utilitarian color palette is inspired by classic Japanese textiles, grounded by natural tones, steely neutrals and inky black midnight blues, subtly infused with washed indigo blues, green tea yellows and soft powdered copper.

Starting with a fabric selection of textural linens and cottons, slub yarns and marl effects, we reworked classic styles with fresh elements and detailing, incorporating a wider short sleeve, belted shorts and dropped shoulders on jackets. The talented team of Studio Small in London helped create special graphic interpretations of Japanese hand carved woodblock prints and kimono inspired stitch-craft using playful approaches towards graphic placements, inspired by traditional dress and textile crafts. One exemplary print features a flower motif deconstructed to 3 basic overlapping forms resembling Japanese minimalist ideals.

The more textural and organic elements of the collection are contrasted by sharp 60’s style wool cotton tailoring and fine cotton shirtings with contrast collars. An accent of iridescent resin coated linen is used for a raincoat and protective hoods that add modernity to easily wearable cotton parkas. This functional collection is styled by combining non-traditional color pairings. SMITH-WYKES suggests matching ensembles such as shorts and denim jackets or four pocket safari shirts combined with soft pleated trousers, to reintroduce the idea of leisure suiting for a new generation.