Top Knotted

After talking up the big guns’ take on sustainability, it’s some sort of a respite to revisit a smaller and independent label that equally has a part to play in the conversation, especially when they’re driving things forward with less resources than most. I’ve given props to young sustainable designer Flavia la Rocca, who I’ve written about on the blog and in a small piece for the Telegraph Magazine. Once again she was part of SS15 and surprise of all surprises, my very own humble mug, or at least an abstract interpretation of it featured as part of a capsule collection, which La Rocca dreamed up with artist friend Ivo Bisignano. Let me assure you that this isn’t an out and out collaboration between myself and La Rocca, although I was honoured to give my consent to the project.

I didn’t ask why la Rocca chose to mar her brilliant modular pieces with patchworks of my supposedly signature top knot and my twinkling eyes so instead, I found out through the secondary source of Vogue Italia. “We chose her because first of all we like to relate to the fashion world of today. And then also because we are fascinated by people who do their job well. Bubble has talent, she pays attention to what she does and most of all she does not like to use herself as a communication tool.”

Most, including myself would disagree with that last line. I am attributed as a primary instigator of the wave of “Look at me, Look at me” blogging when I picked up that point and shoot and aimed it towards my reflection. And obviously that top knot, once upon a time a practical solution to control my mass of hair, is all part and parcel of that communication tool.

Whatever the reasoning or background information, I’m of course utterly flattered that any designer would devote any modicum of time to figuring me into a collection. And on clothes that are very much in tune with my bubbling (sorry…) thoughts about sustainability no less. La Rocca’s collection is mostly made of recycled polyester, a vaguely sheeny, techy-feel material that deceives the eye. She mixes it up with cotton so that it has a texture of double satin whilst appearing entirely utilitarian. La Rocca continues to explore this idea of modularity as dresses unzip in the middle to separate out into tops and skirts, sleeves can be lopped off and flared out skirts can be dissected to form a mini and a midi. It’s all the more fun playing around with the pieces in person when you half unzip a garment to create asymmetry. La Rocca has also introduced cotton poplin covered cork in a “corker” of a jacket and matching skirt that are undoubtedly the star pieces of the collection.

I did warn la Rocca that she would find it a hard sell to buyers trying to flog my face on her garments. Here’s hoping I haven’t sent the stores running because la Rocca is on to a good thing, with or without my top knotted mug.

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