A few favourite looks from the A/W 2011 Arnsdorf collection. Entitled
Tremors, designer Jade Sarita Arnott was influenced by the unpronounceable volcanic eruption that happened earlier this year in Iceland. Eyjafjallajokul! It doesn't roll off the tongue...
I was lucky enough to see the collection when it was shown here last month, and it was even better in reality. Arnsdorf is a favourite Australian label for me from my time living in Sydney as it is so quietly, confidently beautiful and subtle, and there are such high production values and concentration on beautiful, natural fabrics. Silk, cashmere, cotton. I am particularly enamoured with the Arnsdorf look, the colour blocking of single tone jeans and shirt, pastel and pretty.
At a visual level, the eruption created a unique beauty amongst chaos through vivid oranges, reds and sulphur lime explosions. As such the collection explores natural fragments, textures and the colours that were captured by photographers during the explosion. Each piece subtly mimics the incredible natural phenomenon of the smoke plumes, the intensity of the glowing lava, the ash and patterns and lines of the landscape. Floaty sheer silk chiffons, cashmere coating and wool tailoring, suede leather, soft woolen/cashmere knits all work to embody these ideas.
Tremors encompasses the Scandinavian lifestyle, environmental surroundings and cool temperatures of Iceland through the use of furs and cool blue tones, mixed with the transient population – travelers, business people, families, that were entangled in the web of Eyjafjallajokul. It also highlights the broader significance of volcanic eruptions, which can appear devastating in the short term however in the long term they may be beneficial, a necessary dispelling of the earth's heat that leads to new life.
For reasons I cannot understand, you can't buy Arnsdorf at any New Zealand stores. You can, however, purchase it online from
here.
