Kate and Laura Mulleavy showed their powerful Rodarte collection and killer personalities at the New York fashion week show for Fall 2009/10.
The designers added wool to creature skins and included marbled leather that was mostly black, gray and green. Rodarte featured some silver intermingled with tulle, lace, lame, chiffon and crystals. Strappy thigh-high boots added to many of the outfits.
Implications - Mixing prints and fabrics (for example, leather, lace and animal) is no longer considered a trend for those with gaudy taste. Younger consumers are looking back to their grandmother's fashion and design style, but giving it a modern twist. This also has an influence on home design and decor.
Animal Skin Fashion
Mulleavy Twins Show Love of Snakes and Alligators at Rodarte
Trend Themes
1. Multifabric Fashion - Designers are mixing fabrics such as animal skin, leather, lace and chiffon to create a modern twist on vintage styles and creating an opportunity to explore new combinations of materials.
2. Sustainable Animal Skins - Fashion designers are increasingly looking for eco-friendly ways to incorporate animal skins and materials into their collections, leading to new innovations in sustainable and ethical fashion production.
3. Vintage-inspired Design - The resurgence of vintage fashion and design is creating an opportunity for designers to create updated versions of classic looks, which embrace the old and the new in equal measures.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Industry - The fashion industry is looking at innovating its use of animal skins and materials, while still maintaining an ethical and sustainable approach.
2. Interior Design Industry - Interior designers and furniture makers are finding ways to incorporate vintage-inspired designs and materials, such as animal skins, into their work.
3. Textile Industry - The textile industry is adapting to the demand for multifabric fashion, by creating new combinations of materials and experimenting with different mixes and textures.