Christopher Kane’s SS21 Puts our Corona Creatives To Shame

Think you un-leashed your inner artist over lockdown? Did you start to believe you were on your way to becoming Matisse 2.0 with your new masterful talents? Think again! Glaswegian designer, Christopher Kane has put all our corona-creativities to shame with his latest collection, as his pandemic paintings have become the basis for Spring/Summer 2021. 

With lockdown forcing many to work from home, Kane has utilised self-isolation by exploring a new introspective method of patterns production and fabric finishing’s. The acrylic, glue and glitter artworks later became the basis for his garments in bold 60s silhouettes made from a thick canvas-like fabric, Tyvek.  

The presentation is shown in a series of images with the artworks perfectly complimenting the clothing. I should also note that use of the fish-eye lens to shoot the looks is smashing and is seemingly fitting with the tone of the work- being one of self-reflection. A film reel with Kirsty Wark regarding the collection was also broadcasted on London Fashion weekends digital hub this week. 

Kane’s painterly endeavours are a mixture of endless fiction portraits and extensively coloured abstract motifs and mark makings. His portraits, of which he since has called ‘spoiled brats’ filled up his London studio, in a time when personable interactions were forbidden. Here the works reflect the designer's psychological loneliness in the midst of the pandemic, and how from such state has led him to heavenly creative conclusions. 

The collection differs greatly from his previous work. Ecosexuality for Spring/Summer 2020 saw Christopher taking inspiration from a sexual preference centred around ‘loving nature and indulging in earthly pleasure’. Now, Kane’s personal anx and frustrations on this crazy world are framed by his authorship and told through both the brush in his hand and the garms on the hanger. As LFW continues and Milan and Paris are to follow, I look forward to seeing how different fashion houses will respond to the current climate; whether or not  2020 pressures will prevail in their work. These next few months, I hope, will showcase iconographic collections for the brands, ones which will go down in history… and well for Kane there is no exception. 

Both the clothing and paintings will be exhibited as a part of the show Home Alone, which will take place in his flagships store on Mount Street, London.  

Photography Courtesy of Christopher Kane

 

Up Next, Edward Crutchley SS21 Collection Is Out