All posts tagged synergy

Scandinavian design house Marimekko will arrive in New York’s Flatiron District this autumn when it opens its flagship store in October 2011.

Established in 1951, the Finnish textile and clothing brand is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Renowned for its original prints and colours the store is located in one of the busiest blocks in Manhattan, 5th Avenue. The 350 square metre sales floor will mirror the recently opened flagship branch in Helsinki. Embracing the whole range of Marimekko products, the New York store is intended to act as a showcase for new designs while supporting the newly developed international e-commerce site launched in summer 2011. Collaborations with H&M, Converse and Manolo Blahnik have resulted in Marimekko’s prints becoming some of the most recognizable and artistic designs worldwide worn by style icons and the fashion famous.

The company’s expanding profile and strengthening of the brand image worldwide indicates an increasing demand for Scandinavian infused design. This reinforces Mpdclick’s forecasted autumn/winter 11/12 trend Synergy which embody’s a sleek aesthetic with an unmistakable nod to the accomplished designers of Scandinavia. 

Image source: marimekko.com

Words by Mpdclick’s Trend Journal Editor.

Mpdclick cite The Scandinavia Show, returning on 8-9 October 2011 to the Brompton Hall at Earls Court London, as a key event for design inspiration as we track our forecast for autumn/winter 11/12.

The show incorporates Scandinavian design, travel, lifestyle, fashion, culture and food with the design and lifestyle areas being of particular interest to us exhibiting top-end furniture, lighting, fabrics, carpets, interior design items, designer clothes and footwear.

Back in 2009 we began to look to the Nordic states forecasting ‘Synergy’ for a/w 11/12 which embodies a sleek aesthetic, with an unmistakable nod to the accomplished designers of Scandinavia. Craftsmanship techniques recognise a new era of pragmatism, simplicity and efficiency that is dawning, reflecting a consciousness of our effect upon the environment.

This is an event not to be missed for all with an interest in minimal, functional design.

Click here to visit the official website.

Image source: hay.dk

Words by Mpdclick’s Trend Journal Assistant…

At only 24, up and coming designer and soon to be graduate Julie Eilenberger has a bright future ahead of her.  Her latest collection, with a nod to influences from science fiction and old movies, is set to make her a firm fashion favourite.

With three collections already shown at Berlin Fashion Week and a collection for Adidas under her belt, what will be next for the young Danish designer who is currently completing her thesis at the Universität der Künste Berlin. Learning from the best, Eilenberger has interned for both Meadham Kirchhoff and Christopher Kane to perfect her galactic style and unusual craftsmanship.

Her latest collection entitled ‘Marry Me Nature’  pares garments such as intricate laser-cut dresses, crocheted body pieces and  beaded tunics with unexpected outerwear garments such as boiled wool duffels, knitted puffa coats and waxed jackets. The eclectic use of fabrics and techniques from laser-cut decoration and beading to crochet and knit are constructed & presented in a highly experimental fashion, creating a stunning contemporary feel.  

The radical handicraft nature of this collection represents the burgeoning talent exemplifying this style of craft within both fashion and homeware seen within the Nordic region. This particular aesthetic plays on a key aspect within Mpdclick’s Collective direction within our a/w 11/12 Synergy trend in which “contemporary design and innovative techniques fuse with traditional handicrafts and prints for a harmonious collective collaboration”.

Click here to visit Julie Eilenberger’s official website. 

Image source: juliesjuice.wordpress.com

Scandinavian inspiration is clear at Tsumori Chisato singing in tune with Mpdclick’s Synergy trend that cites the Nordic State as a pioneering nation to be inspired by.

A trip to Finland inspired the designer’s collection for this fall 11/12 collection with The Northern Lights playing a big influence within his print direction. Muted candy brights are seen in irregular blocks and blurred stripes upon minimal silhouettes (pictured main), playing on aspects within Synergy’s first direction Regeneration, citing function and innovation as key aesthetic drivers.

The collection then moves on with contemporary Fair Isle prints and radical handicraft set in both refreshing pale and rich earthy hues (pictured below first and second). This aesthetic is in sync with the Collectivism direction of Synergy that fuses innovative techniques with traditional craft of the region. Synergy’s third direction, Resolve which looks to pared down luxury, is also witnessed, represented in staple luxe items such as knee length skirts and long sleeve knitted tops (pictured below third) in neutrals such as sandy cream and black block colours.

Click here to see Tsumori Chisato’s full autumn/winter 2011/12 collection.

Mpdclick subscribers, click here for the full Synergy Trend Research report or here for the Synergy Trend Summary.

Image source: Tsumori Chisato

Words by Trend Journal Editor…

The trend for the blanket, widely seen at last week’s London Fashion Week, was first highlighted by Mpdclick in our autumn/winter 10/11 trend Origin which looked at Latin America’s tradition, ritual and cultural identity for inspiration. LFW has moved this on somewhat to be more in line with the craftsmanship of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, a concept looked at heavily in our Synergy trend (a/w 11/12) epitomized by  Nordic simplicity and craft.

Pringle of Scotland incorporate aspects of both Origin and Synergy shown by fringed blanket shawls and trompe d’oeil knitted patterns. Matthew Williamson was another who showed aspects of both trends in a rich red, black and lilac knitted coat with a specific focus on handicraft. Christopher Kane, however, exemplified Synergy with contemporary crocheted garments and resin like filled curvaceous trims and details.

New York Fashion Week carried on the South American theme; Adam teamed blanket shawls with lace creating a more refined approach to this rustic trend. Proenza Schouler executed a more hi-tech variation; like LFW they pushed an aesthetic similar to that of Scandinavian radical handicrafts upon a definite South American print. Another Mpdclick trend (ss11), Sobriety, which looks to America’s founding fathers for a new beginning full of purity and modesty is also seen, pushed forward by our favourite NYFW designer, Rodarte. A collection full of embroidered floral and Amish inspired motifs, modest necklines and even digital printed corn fields was executed with contemporary precision cuts upon a homely neutral colour palette. Designers Karen Walker, Daniel Vosovic and DKNY also developed the trend with lashings of plaid all set in sleek minimal cuts.

Stay tuned this week as we track our trends in Milan Fashion Week.

Pringle of Scotland (also pictured main)

Matthew Williamson

Christopher Kane

Adam

Proenza Schouler

Rodarte

Rodarte

Karen Walker

DKNY

Words by Trend Journal Editor…

Due for release in February 2011, two iconic yet distinctly different brands, Finnish textile company Marimekko and US rubber shoe brand Converse have joined forces to produce a highly covetable range of unique footwear designs.

Featuring vibrant prints ‘Tarha’, ‘Pikkusuomu’ and ‘Kirppu’ all credited to designers Annika Rimala and Maija and Kristina Isola, more product specific details are yet to be released. Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, Creative Director of Marimekko commented “We are excited about partnering with such an inspiring and iconic company as Converse. This enriching collaboration brings together two brands that both have a distinctive idiom and a unique heritage. The two companies have always walked their own path, and we also share the same unpretentious and joyful approach to life. We hope that this positive attitude will be transmitted to the people who will be sporting the Converses in the vibrant Marimekko designs.” 

With the Finnish capital Helsinki being named ‘World Design Capital’ in 2012, expect to see a lot more Scandinavian brands being shot into the limelight with their minimally decorative aesthetic and functional form. We can’t wait.

Image source: marimekko.com, converse.com

Scandanavia was last highlighted in our ‘white luxe’ theme for a/w 09/10 and Synergy for a/w 11/12. For Helsinki, being the world design capital means developing, advancing and improving our everyday lives in 2012 and beyond. Finns think of design as a human oriented and open activity.

According to the WDC director Pekka Timonen “this is an opportunity for the city to introduce global change through design”. The Finns like things to be made beautifully with a feeling of crafted heritage, even with modern production the craft aspect of design is still important today in many fields of design. The Finns are also masters in innovation, for instance Nokia the Finnish mobile phone giant made rubber boots until the 1980s.

Unlike Denmark and Sweden, Finnish design is not understated. In terms of fashion, Marimekko designer Vuokko Nurmesniemi, a brand loved by Jackie Kennedy, set the benchmark for Finnish fashion in the 1960s, setting the industry to flourish until the 1980s.

Below are some key examples of Finnish design to feast upon:

Johanna Gullichsen: Textile designer who sells her hand woven wares in her 2 stores, one in Helsinki and the other in Paris.

Ivana Helsinki: Created by designer Paola Ivana Suhonen combining folklore and Scandinavian roots.

Tiia Vanhatapio: Alternative cocktail dresses.

Minna Parikka: Designs shoes made of the finest materials.

Marimekko: The vangaurd of Finnish style.

Ittalia: Glasswork that represents Finnish design. iittalia.com

Artek: Furniture brand founded by Finlands best loved designer Alvar Aalto.

Image source:  marimekko.com

Words by Trend Journal Assistant…

Canadian based outerwear brand Canada Goose, well known for producing luxury parka jackets are currently in the middle of reinventing there well known concept of ‘function-over-fashion’ with a more ‘street-ready’ style.

Canada Goose’s parka jackets are standard wear for everyone who has to work in excessive cold weather conditions, even providing custom-designed jackets for specialist requirements. Starting out originally for park rangers and the police force, street appeal has pushed forward the brand from there on. By continuing to use its several ‘heritage colours’ the brand is experimenting with silhouette and stylized detailing to adhere to contemporary trends whilst retaining brand consistency in two new lines, ‘Yuki Matsuda’ and ‘Hybridge’ (pictured main). As outdoor attire and parka jackets are becoming more and more popular, combined with the companies’ reputation for quality, Mpdclick predicts Canada Goose’s sales to soar as consumers seek quality over fast fashion.

Canada Goose’s long standing heritage and product longevity are qualities reflected in two of Mpdclick’s trends for both spring/summer 2011, developing into autumn/winter 2011/12.

Image source: canada-goose.com

Words by Trend Journal Editor…

Monki is a store concept and female fashion brand that has created a new world for its customers using videos,  inspirational styling tips and styled shoots for a truly unique shopping experience, while their brand aesthetic aims to mix Tokyo street style with crisp Scandinavian minimalism.

Monki was originally launched in 2006; today, there are 43 shops in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and  Germany, with the Netherlands and Hong Kong coming soon. Monki is the little sister of fashion brands Weekday and Cheap Monday, which together form the Fabric Scandinavian AB Company. The brand has created a chain of fashion stores that combine garments, graphics and store design to convey the brands  story, ‘Monki Saga’:

“Monki is an entity derived from mixtures of old chemicals, forgotten in the ruins of old fabrications in the city of oil and steel. The Monki saga is plucked from the peacock fields, fished from the everlasting sea and woven along the shores of Rose ship River. The story is a wild hotchpotch of wondrous adventures among leeches, butterfly choirs, turbine flowers, bow trees, and mysterious chemicals. Nothing is impossible in the Monki world!”

Catering to females wanting to express individuality, independence and personality through what they wear, Monki fashion really encapsulates the essence of Scandinavian cool; tonal layering and minimalism with an urban edge, a concept that is echoed within one of Mdpclicks trends forecast for autumn/winter 2011/12.

Image source: www.monki.com