Having provided the audience with small black pouches in which they were to put their phones, the lights came down and a soothing voice reverberated through the spacious industrial room. It was equal parts practical instruction and calming ASMR: “Switch off your device,” the voice told the audience as a rainforest-esque soundscape trickled in the background. “Take time today. Make time today. Switch off your device. Relax. We invite you to go on a journey. Surrender, to love and light. Surrender.”
Then, the lights were cut and the sound turned off. A minute of silence and contemplation followed - a true anomaly amid a week often defined by constant movement and video capture. But plunging the audience into darkness served an important purpose in introducing the thesis of the collection: stay present and take time.
When a minute was up, the lights came up and the show commenced. The collection was dominated by tonal colours, tie-dye inspired by exclusive Agate prints and silhouettes that experimented with volume and shape. Oversized shirts were worn open with swim tops, leather belts cinched in the waist over long skirts and sleeves bloomed at the shoulder.
But in looking forward, they also believe one needs to pause to consider what came before as the show also reintroduced some old favourites. They updated the ‘Super Lo-Slung Jean’ and oversized leather shorts that the label became famous for over a decade ago, as well as featured signature details like contrast stitching, chainstitch darts and the bassike slouch throughout.
Writing about the inspiration for the show, co-founder and creative director Deborah Sams said that she designed based on the “premise of finding pockets of rejuvenating breathing space amongst the noise and the haste of modern life.” Specifically, she drew from “the quiet moments in between the actions and reactions, the stimulus and response and the feeling of respite as time is taken to pause.”
It’s a sentiment we could all do more to remember. We'd surely be better for it.
