Luckily: I happened to have a talk from artist turned designer Claire Barrow herself today! So I can tell you exactly whats-up.
She explained to us that she removed herself from the schedule because she considers herself an artist as well as a designer: therefore she want's to have time to think about her work. She currently only has TWO WEEKS to design a collection!
Claire Barrow also told us that she wants to bring it back to what she wants to make: and give herself the chance to have more of a conversation and direct contact with the consumer: as opposed to designing for bigger companies.
Can I say I told you so yet? The fashion cycle is BROKEN. Perhaps the Chanel's and the Dior's that have money to throw at feeding this hamster wheel are coping (or not! considering Raf Simmons: See my post here), but young designers like Claire Barrow are not.
Claire has been designing for 8 seasons now, so she knows the system.
But it isn't sustainable.. just like Bangladeshi sweat shops aren't.
People are waking up to the music and changes are happening.
I feel like this year is the year Millennials are putting their foot down for things that just aren't right: and the broken fashion cycle is a great place to start-over.
Claire described to us today how her collection is confusing: she doesn't want anyone to get it. She wants to make people think: and change the way fashion works.
Her last collection was a reflection of the history of fashion. She said that at the moment; fashion is looking at the past: see the 70's trend, 90's looks; and so her most recent collection was a retaliation to such. A jumble of all the ages!
A woman of such clear sights seemed so godly to us; but when asked the reason behind why she wanted to work with stylist
Haley Wollins, She giggled and said "She's worked with Drake!" as we all giggled enthusiastically with her. That considered, coming into our classroom wearing a Yeezus tour shirt, whether she knew it or not, she was playing to the crowd. Just like Roberta Einer; so successful, yet so relatable.
"I don't like magazines: they are boring and for white people" She confessed. Again, we all related. No one knows what is paid for or genuine these days. She admitted she was fond of Dazed, and November is 'pretty cute', another underground magazine called Mosh Pit too.
I buy my clothes from Etsy: if you look for American Vintage on there, it's amazing. Understandable coming from a do-it-yourself-er. A vision of the new-bricolage consumer (in-short: our generation is becoming increasingly do-it-yourself, bespoke, original etc.)
When we suggested a collaboration with Doc Martins: she got very excited. 'I hope so' she said. 'They give me shoes for my shows!'. Perhaps something to look out for!
Last but not least; we questioned Claire on her choice of Model. She explained that she chooses her models through personality; she would rather have actual real people than blank models.
This is a concept that is increasingly on the rise (Young designer Molly Goddard did the same) of the No-del; designers that choose friends to model rather than hire through agency.
Overall, a refreshing take on fast fashion and a tasteful introduction into a much more pensive and meaningful kind of fashion, and most importantly: one more 'fuck you' to the unsustainable hamster wheel we call fashion today.
