It can only spell a collection from the post-apocolyptic maestro Jean Pierre Braganza.
For AW09 he invites us to imagine an alternative world where the Native Americans were not supressed by the settlers and went onto rule the world. A tall order as it's hard to imagine these once proud and plentiful tribes who roamed the plains of America not having been reduced to the subjugated, reservation imprisoned people they ended up.
In Braganza's vision, the pride of this alernative, triumphant tribe is very apparent. His signature panelling has taken the form of the shapes found in totem poles; the textural element, always a key factor in Braganza's work, is found in mixtures of leather, silk jaquard, velvet, coated cotton and wool. Headdresses of feathers and tulle designed by Noel Stewart proudly adorn the heads of these warriors.
The mostly black palette is given depth with added rich, inky purple, stone grey and marbled jade which serves to showcase the intricate cutting techniques he is has become known for, offering the whole collection a sense of movement, luxury and strength.
Native Americans believed that they were a part of nature, not apart from it and so their clothing reflected both their habitat and their beliefs - we are then left to ponder what kind of world these warriors exist in when they are camouflaged in such dark, haunting beauty.
Of course his references are never literal; only eluded to and, like any of Braganza's work, we are left to fill in the gaps of the story he has woven.
And to take the tone down to base level - bagsy me the purple panelled trousers!
Queen Michelle
