When I first came across the pattern play in Antwerp designer Manon Kundig‘s ‘Bowerbird’ collection, I was simply floored. Inspired by the strange Bowerbird from the tropics of New Guinea + Northern Australia, this bird is simply a hoarder that amasses colorful scraps in large quantities which is exactly how the collection looks. Other inspirations included mashed up global visual inspirations that draws from subcultures, Google and the Moroccan immigrants in her hood – She’s particularly obsessed with Google images.
(photo:Michaël Smits)
Full of contrasting vignettes comprised of hand marbled printed silk, beaded faux fur, lace gloves + socks, sequins + synthetic fringes, you truly get lost in Manon’s surreal reality – Her choice of silhouettes, cuts and prints makes this all tangible. Love the models’ faces covered up with silk scarves which in some cases (L), giving one the appearance of a landscape when up against a different pattern.
(photo: Michaël Smits)
‘My influences could be anything, from an evening with friends to a night in a garden shed.’
(photo: Michaël Smits)
A Walter Van Beirendonck protégée and selected for Wallpaper* Magazine and NJAL’s Graduate Directory 2012 (Manon is a recent Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Art graduate), with a collection that plays so greatly with textures, bright colors + print, this is one designer to definitely keep your eye on. If that’s not reason enough, this self-portrait (below) with Manon hard at work, should do it – very honest.
(photo:Severafrahm)
(via NJAL)