LFW SS13: Antoni & Alison

The first show of the season. The Courtyard was packed and backstage was crazy- wigs and leg shine everywhere, and even a brass band… Length was the name of the game, and I’m not talking about the hem lines- a five minute recorded speech played out before the show began, first Alison, and then Antoni. Finally the dresses began, big and bright marching to the tune of the trumpets. Lively prints kept and kept… and kept coming. They may have been beautiful but when you’re hoping for a show to end the excitement fades. Still, when it ended I shot backstage to grab a couple words with the designer duo.

PN: Congratulations on the show!

A&A: Thank you, did you like it?

PN: Yeah it was great! Where did the brass band come from?

A&A: I don’t know! We wanted the models to have something to march to.

PN: So the new work, is this a new way of presenting your work?

A&A: Well it’s all about the journey. That’s the most important thing. We’re looking forward, it’s all about the future.

PN: So you guys actually made all of the prints?

A&A: Oh yes yes, four days full of painting!

Alison: Yes, well I actually studied painting at university so it’s still in my heart.

PN: And what about the wigs?

A&A: We wanted to chop all the hair off again and have all the models with the same hair.

A unity to contrast all the prints. Something to anchor it.

PN: And as you said working as a duo… pros and cons?

A&A: She’s a bloody nightmare!

Alison: I’m a bit negative. Well we contrast.

PN: That didn’t look like a negative collection, it seemed a very fun and young collection.

A&A: Well we’re fun and young! We love that feeling of being young and being excited and thinking that you can do anything.

We were always like that. We’ve never forgotten that feeling.

PN: Great so Antoni & Alison, always young and fun!

Words- Emma Hoareau

Photos - Kaye Ford