With its sculpturally positioned mirrors capturing sunlight and heat, Jonathan Saunders couldn’t have been more blessed in his spring/summer 16 show setting: a transparent pavilion. The space played into his love of artists like Donald Judd and Dan Flavin, swimming pools and blue skies. It made for a perfect place to show off his “sensual multicultural”, bright, silky collection. There were simple slips, then much more complicated layering and tiering, all serving to capture his brand ethos of “effortlessness and ease.”
The color combinations showed a master of that particular craft, but when we asked him if he was London’s premier colorist, he didn’t get too carried away with the compliment, joking, “I quite like that – it makes me sound like a hairdresser though!” Print-wise there were organic floral paisleys, but also geometric patterns, all playing well against blocks of orange-red, neon yellow and cornflower blue.
“All the girls had individual characters so dressed in a variety of ways. It’s supposed to reflect personal taste, fluidity and sensuality. The majority of the collection was silk. We used quite traditional textiles from a starting point and then used other ways to be innovative to make it more modern.”
Not only did the show look good, but there was the sense that it would feel even better. The soft silks left a gentle, floating trail and looked like big time, summertime sensuality.
Read more i-D fashion month coverage here.
Credits
Text Stuart Brumfitt
Photography Mitchell Sams