For their latest presentation at Pitti Uomo 94 in Florence, MINI FASHION partnered with The Woolmark Company to collaborate with a number of emergent names in fashion including STAFFONLY, PH5, and Liam Hodges to create and present special capsule collections at the historic trade show.
Now in its fifth season, MINI FASHION’s Pitti Uomo presentations are always inspired by the urban nomad, championing individuality and the spirit of exploration. Continuing their partnership with Woolmark for Pitti Uomo 93, their latest joint venture works with a number of Woolmark Prize alumni, exploring the possibilities of Merino wool.
Collectively, MINI FASHION and Woolmark’s “Field Notes” collection is underpinned by a central theme of memory and experiences of travel, as well as the idea of transcending borders. Using Woolmark textiles as a foundation, each designer presented their own interpretations of these themes, and the variety of results demonstrates the broad subjectivity of how we experience travel and motion in the modern age.
For British designer Liam Hodges, who has rarely shied away from an understanding of fashion as something that should be practical, convenient and, most importantly, comfortable, this meant creating a wardrobe that addressed the considerations of contemporary life in transit, such as airport security and the limitations of heavy luggage.
But the collection is also inspired by Donna Tartt’s 2013 novel The Goldfinch, a central plotline of which involves a journey across the United States from the New York metropolis to the desert city of Las Vegas, Nevada.
As a result, Hodges’ wardrobe combines graphics and aesthetics rooted in literary themes with a pragmatic understanding of the practical considerations of travel. All-over prints and scattered motifs tip their hat to Tartt’s novel, while details such as string belts, detachable pouches and a wealth of pockets present a wardrobe that facilitates the wearer’s ease of transit, passing through security with as little hassle as possible, and circumventing the pitfalls of luggage weight restrictions.
What Hodges’ approach ultimately touches upon is one aspect of the spirit that has informed MINI FASHION’s projects since its inception; an innate curiosity with how our understanding of fashion has evolved in recent years, from something so often removed from the practical challenges of real life, to something that can provide innovative and compelling responses to those same challenges.
It’s an understanding that is core to the concept of travel, considering not only how you go, but how you’ll arrive, and how you’ll continue when you get there. Fashion, like travel, is something in constant flux, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be grounded in real life considerations right down to the drudgery of digital scales, metal detectors, and x-ray scanners. In a world where time is money, why waste precious seconds emptying your pockets when you could just take off your jacket, drop it in the tray, and go?
Liam Hodges' "Field Notes" capsule is available to shop online now, just hit the link below. Find more of his work over on his website and Instagram page and learn more about MINI FASHION over at mini.com.
