In conversation with DURO OLOWU
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Duro Olowu
The Nigerian born British fashion designer, renowned for his use of bold and harmonious patterns in his womenswear collections, discusses the inspirations behind his Capsule Collection for MAX&Co, titled “People, Places, Colour”. Modern, youthful, and chic, it includes sunglasses with frames printed in one of the bold patterns that is also featured on the clothing in the collection. As well as a case in the same pattern by Olowu for MAX&Co.
People, Places, Colour, name of your exclusive Capsule Collection, seem to identify three essential components of your ideal journey. Do you have any place in your heart where these three ideals meet and flow together?
For me people and places are linked by colour. My capsule collection for MAX&Co. is an expression of that. You remember where you have travelled to, particularly on holiday by the colours of the city, terrain, sea, or the particularly inspiring ways in which people from a specific place dress and mix vivid colours. This collection is an expression of that joyful mix and fantastic style. I drew on my well-known love and knowledge of contemporary art. My Capsule Collection for MAX&Co. was inspired by the work of Italian artist Luigi Ghirri whose wonderfully composed cinematic, colourful and poetic photographs set against the Italian landscape of Italy in the 1970s and 1980s evoked the beauty and emotion of simple travel to familiar places. I imagine the artist extending his travels to other parts of the world, such as Bamako in Mali, using his camera to capture the same kind of technicolor hues and moments.
The collection represents who I imagine to be the MAX&Co woman. Young and free minded with a fresh and interesting approach to dressing
How did the collaboration process carry out? How was working together with the MAX&Co. and Marcolin teams?
My entire experience working on this collection with MAX&Co was very creative and rather good fun. I am a very hands-on designer in every way, and they were thrilled and encouraged about this side of my design process. Added to that was the access I had to their incredible manufacturing facilities and making techniques. A combination of quality, innovation and high standards that is always very important to me and my work.
What kind of woman did you imagine when you created “People, Places, Colour”?
The collection represents who I imagine to be the MAX&Co woman. Young and free minded with a fresh and interesting approach to dressing. She thinks less about casual or formal, day or night and mixes classic silhouettes (with unexpected details) in vivid monotone colours with luxuriously bold patterns, in an interesting way. She is intelligent and aware of the world she lives in and the places she visits. She is not easily led and makes her clothing choices spontaneously but consciously.
