VIOLET | STEVEN PHILIP

Violet models in vintage Maison Marginal AW 93/94 for Steven Philip.

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Photographer: Holly de Looze

Assistant: Lindsay cc

What is most inspiring about this collection is that the pieces were made up of garments sourced from flea markets, which were then reconstructed into new contemporary garments which was revolutionary at the time.

“Disparity”

We cannot account for the businessman in the 50s and his pinstripe suit.

Nor can we understand the pain of the woman in the 60s when she lost her silk skirt

it would be farfetched to assume the happiness of Mary in the floral blouse in the 40s.

Their ideas were all too different.

Mary tried to speak to the businessman but there was no reply as they were stuck in different times, separated by difference.

However they all hummed the same tune when no sound would fill their ears.

They couldn’t stand the silence.

I wonder if their ghost knows how wonderful that tune sounded as they walked down the runway.

All different, but together.

The way we seemingly forgot it was intended to be.

Steven and I met while I was modelling for an article he was the focus of for High Fashion Talk magazine. After the shoot Steven encouraged me to pop by the studio for a cup of tea and In doing so we got chatting a bit more. Steven is full of stories that detail his crazy life (but he’ll tell you that story another time) He can detail the highest highs and the lowest lows of the human experience and not so much fears, but is disappointed that in the digital age we have not grown closer but have grown distant in a normalised competition of comparison where not all get a fair chance In creative pursuit and that is what he is looking to change to get people chatting, collaborating and creating regardless of status and experience.

I believe it’s through looking for similarity rather than difference that Steven and I developed a kinship and that Steven was one of few people who checked up on me and encouraged me to chat when I wasn’t feeling too great about my position in life which I truly appreciate. Anyhow I told Steven my first piece that really peaked my interest in fashion was an aw2016 silk shirt from Margiela, Steven suggested we do a little project for the 93/94 AW collection that he had sourced and I was over the moon. The fact this collection is cuts from different garments sourced from flea markets crudely cut and sewn back together to create new wearable garments is a metaphor in itself for finding similarities despite differences and that we can hopefully do the same despite the isolating nature of the age we live in.