Our fashion landscape is ever-changing. Commercial and traditional design desires of the past are but a distant memory, thanks to the fluctuating state of the world as we know it. With the ups and downs and twists and turns that come with a more technologically advanced and fast-paced zeitgeist, we’re seeing more and more brands adapt and metamorphose, becoming tunnels to the future. One of these shapeshifting veterans is Salvatore Ferragamo.
The brand knows the industry like the back of its hand, picking up on what needs to be changed and the direction that the future of fashion is heading in. Leaping forward to mold a new now, Ferragamo’s latest Winter 2021 collection, ‘Future Positive,’ is inspired by the limitless conceptual freedom of science fiction. Think The Matrix, Gattaca, and Until The End Of The World, pre-millennial classics that Ferragamo refers back upon to invigorate its sartorial sci-fi synergy. Combining these past imaginings of the future that have shaped today with the fashion house’s heritage of technical innovation, we are offered an alternative vision for the present — a collection that sees the now through a prism of the future, unleashing a multitude of fresh perspectives.
The collection disrupts and upgrades 21st-century tropes of uniform, from business and military to evening and sporting, removing all that is deemed old-fashioned and propelling into a more optimistic, bright, and youthful direction. Imagining the standard contours of today’s uniforms as fossilized remnants of a long-forgotten past, free of all associations of class, color, or creed, this collection proposes new uniforms for a utopian future in which diversity and positivity combine to transform our world for the better. With a sensitivity driven by optimism and hope, it focuses on the overall health of our environment. As Salvatore Ferragamo himself once said of his own work, this collection is dedicated "to all those who must walk - at a time when we must be united in our determination to reimagine, rebuild, progress."
The collection is almost entirely unisex, something we are seeing brands do more and more, and rightly so. Through its slick finesse and Italian inventiveness, Ferragamo’s pieces are built without hierarchy, as we see tailoring templates blend together, sequenced with athletic codes and military-inspired details.
As we advance into the winter season, don’t worry about not being decked out for the cold as this collection teems with texture. Mohair knits and shirting complement capes, coats, and parkas in heat-processed leather and wools. Technical knitwear meets bodysuits while abstract, futuristic camouflage covers dresses, and outerwear garments are dotted with irregular bursts of fringed yarn. Translucent zip-up jackets are sprinkled through the collection bringing a sporty flair to Ferragamo’s archetypal aesthetic. Mostly monochrome the Ferragamo pieces complement one another, with the odd sci-fi themed burst of color bringing zest and bold energy to the line-up.
When it comes to footwear and accessories, Ferragamo went all out. Space-hiker boots and scuba sock sneakers are presented alongside rubberized clogs and a reimagination of Ferragamo’s iconic F-heel adorned in rhinestones. The eye-catching footwear selection has you ready for any intergalactic experience, with the recycled TPU rubber and use of plant-based materials sticking to Ferragamo’s promise of a more sensitive fashion approach. Keeping to the futuristic feel, the brand showcases its deconstructed Ferragamo Studio Bag and rubberized Nappa Bag, while a travel bag in Gancini-embossed leather with a pocketed utility strap takes center stage. Not to mention the seriously Matrix-y sunglasses to add that finishing touch to any fit.
Shop the full Ferragamo AW21 collection here.
