In a station of the Metro
The apparition of these faces in the crowd.
Petals on wet, black, bough.
Ezra Pound
Modernist Poetry 1914
I based my collection on the multiple juxtapositions and marriages that this poem brings to light, the first and foremost is cultural integration between a European poet writing a traditional Japanese poem, in his own revamped manner. I focused my research mainly on the differences between the two cultures and how their similarities allow for a design that speaks to both cultures separately, while also blending the two. I researched traditional garments from both cultures and found inspiration from boxed shapes in Japanese kimonos, the beautiful pant and sleeve shape of the Korean Durumagi, and the textural sweaters and portraits from French aristocrats.
With this juxtaposition of culture also came the juxtaposition of the subject matter in the poem, Pound is comparing both man and nature both being above and underground. Blurring the physical perception of what and where the subject is exactly, a way in which he further conveyed their similarities. I found this artistic liberty to be very intriguing and wanted to show this through layering multiple textures and creating a unisex collection. I created a genderless collection in order to also juxtapose the clothing expectations per sex, by focusing on just making pieces for a “person” I was able to marry both sexes into one. With this element of my design, my friend Matty Bovan came to mind, he is a knit wear designer who dresses very androgenic yet still keeps a strong sense of male dress. Clicking through images of him in pink sweaters, pink eye wear, long blond hair with colored tips, and glittered finger nails turned him into my muse.
Underlying in Pounds poem was a juxtaposition of movement and stillness. The dynamism of the crowd in comparison with the static of nature, I represented this through squiggle prints, gathering, and ruffles. Elements that bring movement and dynamism to the big static silhouettes I am enveloping my client into.
