From jungle fever taking over the runways to tank tops making a haute impression, the Spring Summer 2020 season offered plenty of interesting trends that’ll change how you dress in the new year. If there’s another trend you should take note of, it’s the proliferation of materials and textures boasting a homespun quality. Designers utilised clever methods to inject a touch of rustic charm to the clothes, be it weaving a skirt from traditional crochet techniques, or using raffia as an accent to bright florals.
Considering how fashion is re-looking at ways it can be more sustainable, it’s a timely proposition. These designs not only provide illuminating insights to what the human hand can achieve, they also offer suggestions to how materials—unwanted or not—can be repurposed into investment-worthy pieces in the future. Here are five brands that spun the season’s most beautiful creations:
The Italian marque has mastered the art of the weave—its famous Intrecciato has become one of fashion’s most recognisable patterns. With Daniel Lee now on board as its new Creative Director, the Intrecciato has also undergone a rejuvenation of sorts, turning up supersized on a range of It bags and shoes. For the new season, a webbed dress that hugged the body was one of Lee’s standout designs.
To reiterate her message of respecting the environment, Maria Grazia Chiuri set up a show space filled with trees that’d be replanted across various parts of Paris after the catwalk presentation. The magic materialised in the form of dresses constructed from raffia that brought the House’s fabled craftsmanship to new heights.
Silvia Venturini Fendi marked her first ready-to-wear collection sans Karl Lagerfeld by bringing the warmth of Italian sunshine into her clothes. Amongst the punchy sorbet hues and exuberant floral prints were netted tops and skirts, plus a turnout of bags constructed from compact raffia.
How do you advance the minimalist agenda at a brand considered to be one of the pioneering forces of the movement? For Luke and Lucie Meier, the husband-and-wife duo now at the helm of Jil Sander, they explored the use of raffia-like fabric In their latest collection for brand. Strips of the material danced on the front of jackets, necklines and skirts.
Jonathan Anderson has always put craft at the forefront at Loewe and spring/summer 2020 continued that ethos of human ingenuity. In particular, a crochet jacket and a dress that featured circular webs of threads proudly displayed the skills of the Spanish Maison.