As this season’s fashion shows rolled on in Paris this week, designers are hard at work to show the world their vision of the future. Sometimes, that can mean a return to the simpler past.
I was struck by the plainness of the potato sack silhouettes that dominated the second part of the show at A.F. Vandevorst Thursday. The muted, paper bag-esque browns added to the drab effect, leaving one reminiscent of a time before sewing machines and colored dyes.
To the designer’s credit, hidden beneath the simplicity was perfectly executed tailoring. The geometric seaming and dolman sleeves were certainly no easy task for the team. Perhaps in the end what looked like a blank canvas was in fact a masterpiece!
Potato Sack Fashion
A.F. Vandevorst's Understated Vision for Fall 2009
Trend Themes
1. Rustic Fashion - Designers can explore a return to simplicity using plain, muted tones to exhibit a back-to-the-basics aesthetic.
2. Artisanal Tailoring - Intricate geometric seaming and dolman sleeves demonstrate fashion mastery and provide an opportunity for designers to explore the craft of tailoring.
3. Eco-friendly Fashion - Embracing plain, rough materials such as potato sacks provides an opportunity for designers to utilize environmentally sustainable materials to create high fashion pieces.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Designers can draw inspiration from the traditional look of potato sacks to create innovative pieces for the fashion industry.
2. Textile Manufacturing - Manufacturers can explore creating unique fabrics with rougher materials to give designers a wider range of materials to craft high fashion pieces.
3. Sustainability - The use of environmentally sustainable materials like potato sacks can be explored by companies looking for ways to incorporate sustainable practices into their business operations.