Hasta La Ideas

Elements of abstraction and modern sculpture feature in this Spring Summer 2019 collection by London-based fashion designer Micol Ragni, presented during London Fashion Week.

The Italian designer, who has created costumes for Björk, Rihanna and Erykah Badu, based her collection on natural formations, which she translated into liquid metal materials and structural silhouettes.

“I want to find a way to portray beauty that is not constructed and artificial but rather casual, with the same type of randomness nature creates itself,” Ragni told Dezeen.

Inspired by the works of artists John Chamberlain and Jon Rafman – who are recognised for their plastic and metal sculptural works – models were dressed in black PVC trench coats and loose-fitting yet structured iridescent fabrics, intended to resemble objects rather than garments.

“I like to use materials that do not look like fabrics but more like objects and that remind you of something else, like metal foils or plastic films,” explained Ragni.

“For this collection, I used fabrics that look like liquid metals, crushed paper, plastic packaging and see-through coloured ice,” she said. “I have been told many times that my clothes resemble trash bags, but I quite like that!”

Another point of reference was the concept of hyper-femininity. “I was inspired by archetypical female figures and what a woman with a strong sense of self would like to wear,” she explained.

Ragni’s collection was presented in the basement of London’s 180 Strand, a low-ceilinged warehouse space with steel fixtures and concrete floors.

When describing the setting for the show, Ragni wanted the space to resemble a museum installation rather than a fashion display to emphasise the “sculptural nature of her work”.

Working with set designer Derek Hardie Martin, Ragni cited the work of director David Lynch and his “dreamlike movies”, which she referenced with a video projection of abstracted visuals by artist Joseph Delaney.

Having founded her label in 2014, Ragni has created garments for a number of musicians, including Björk on her “magically utopian” Utopia tour earlier this year.

“I would like that, by wearing this collection, a person can feel ready to face a social context, approach this weirdness in a positive way and feel that they can own the moment and their audience,” said Ragni.

London Fashion Week ran from 14 to 18 September at various locations around the capital. Other shows included the Fashion East show in Covent Garden, which presented work by Charlotte Knowles, Yuhan Wang and ASAI.

Photography is by Jordan Eisbjerg and Eva Losada

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For many, our beds are our happy places. They are where were start and finish most of our days and where we rewind from the daily stresses of our busy lives! When we think of a bed providing us with the ultimate relaxation and comfort, we would normally connect this directly with the mattress, but what if the bed itself could contribute to this factor?

Well that’s the objective of the Cuddle bed, which features a flexible, cushioned headboard that’s packed full of functional features! Each side of the headboard can be pivoted by the user to create a sense of privacy and secureness that conventional beds are missing. This movement is reminiscent of the gentle human interaction that is hugging, or cuddling, adding an element of comfort to the design.

The cushioned sideboard also removes the need for a bulky side table; the large pockets are perfect for storing smart devices and books in when the time comes to get some well-needed sleep!

Designers: Weichih Chen & Fuhua Wang

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