~ like ~ Akira Isogawa: Printemps Été

i was tidying up my table and came across this catalogue. 

thought i should scanned it and share.

this had to be one of the first few exhibitions i went during my first year in uni (￣ｰ￣;)

fresh and exciting.

so i bought the catalogue back home and then brought it along with me from mel to perth.

akira isogawa, one of the australia's leading fashion designer who loves textiles and colour. 

he always has original concept in his designs, not forgetting to merge his background cultural into it.

he had an exhibition installation back in 2004; opened at the national gallery of victoria, melbourne.

this particular installation documented his inspiration for summer Printemps-Été Collection 2005 and displayed his development from early stages to finished objects.

 

his journey indeed.

and what caught my eyes first were the huge cut-out paper-dolls!

 

for this particular collection, it was revealed that there are two important sources that inspired him.

the first would be the paper-dolls; where he played his abstract ideas by dressing the paper-dolls with found objects.

and the later was origami - the japanese art of paper folding. 

left: Origami: Diamond; middle: Diamond: Initial stage toile - small diamond; right: Diamond: Initial stage toile - enlarged diamond; 2004 designed, 2005 spring summer

these were them transformed into final garments.

i had put a few of my favourite pieces together so you could easily observed the transformation (・ω・)

left: bib top with sequins, circle layered skirt and belt with bear wallet ; right: series of paper dolls (detail), 2004, paper, collage

left: series of paper dolls (detail), 2004, paper, collage ; right: cathedral dress

 

left: earring singlet and sarong ; right: series of paper dolls (detail), 2004, paper, collage

left: series of paper dolls (detail), 2004, paper, collage ; right: feather bolero and japanese song book crop pants

left: leaf dress ; right: series of paper dolls (detail), 2004, paper, collage

left: flower embroidery top and circle skirt ; right: series of paper dolls (detail), 2004, paper, collage

left: hand-painted dragonfly top and feather petal skirt ; right: series of paper dolls (detail), 2004, paper, collage

what i love about is the concept and exploitation behind these; and of course the incorporation of dolls ♪♪

observing his titles from past years to today, i think (sorry if i got it wrong) he still exploits this particular inspiration into his collections. 

" i have so many ideas that it is almost frightening. if i started to write down ideas there would be hundreds or even thousands - so it is a matter of finding something relevant to what i am doing. ideas are always there in abundance... " Akira Isogawa

 

visit his website to view his past and current collections.




which one do you like?




(images courtesy from akira isogawa printemps-ete catalogue)