London-based fashion label Ahluwalia introduces its latest range for the Spring/Summer 2021 season entitled the Liberation collection. The capsule is showcased at the London Fashion Week and draws inspiration from both Priya Ahluwalia and Dennis McInnes. The two work together to conduct research on Nigeria's 1960s protests and the posters, photographs, and news stories of a powerful time.
It was a historic point of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is translated through subtle design elements in the seasonal collection. There are toned down patterns such as pyramids, zig zag lines, and grids inspired by infographics drawn from Data Portraits: Visualising Black America by W. E. B. Du Bois. Ahluwalia explains the capsule as "It’s inspired by a myriad of things, notably old newspaper articles from Nigeria, and photographs celebrating Black Beauty in America and illustrated infographics. I kind of knew that physical presentations wouldn’t be happening this season so I wanted to ensure that the collection was graphic and easily digestible via a screen, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to ask graphic designer Dennis McInnes to come on board."
Liberation-Themed Fall Fashion
Ahluwalia Unveils the Powerful Liberation Collection for SS21
Trend Themes
1. Graphic Design-inspired Fashion - The Liberation collection by Ahluwalia showcases the opportunity for fashion brands to incorporate graphic design elements into their seasonal collections.
2. Cultural Protest Influences - Ahluwalia's SS21 collection draws inspiration from Nigeria's 1960s protests, highlighting the potential for fashion brands to tap into historical moments of protest and activism.
3. Digital Fashion Presentations - The shift towards digital presentations in the fashion industry, as seen in Ahluwalia's collection, presents an opportunity for brands to create easily digestible and visually striking content for online audiences.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can explore graphic design-inspired elements to enhance their collections and connect with cultural protest movements.
2. Graphic Design - Graphic designers can collaborate with fashion brands to create visually impactful designs that draw inspiration from historical protests and activism.
3. Digital Marketing - Digital marketers can assist fashion brands in creating engaging and immersive digital presentations to showcase their collections to a wider online audience.