Saturday, July 18, 2020

BEAUTY: Clothing--Etro

Ah, Etro. The house can always be depended upon for a dose of soothing beauty with Bohemian pattern and rich color. Kean Etro, who heads the menswear division of the brand started by his father, worked with his sister Veronica, who heads the womenswear division, for this SS '21 collection.

Unlike other houses and brands during this virtual edition of Milano Moda Uomo, Etro chose to present an actual, physical show--*gasp*--for a group of 80 mask-clad, safe-distanced guests. At the open air garden at the Four Seasons hotel in Milan on the morning of July 15, Etro became the first to produce a live show after the pandemic quarantine. The Etros said the show was about diversity, "as if guests of many different provenances were checking into the hotel, with their unique stories to tell and their wealth of memories and experience to share." And indeed, I see references to the Southwest of the United States with Western motifs including Navajo designs, a section with some jungle-themed prints, and even a section of sophisticated Madras and Mumbai jewel tones from India. Fashion journalist Tiziana Cardini correctly observes that "As an extended family, the Etros have always embraced inclusive values and individuality. The idea of traveling to far away destinations, which is at the core of their aesthetic, is intended more as a respectful exploration of different cultures than as wanderlust or pure escapism." It is this earnest exploration that has always attracted me to Kean Etro's vision.

Both collections were created entirely in Italy using craftspeople who were eager to get back to some form of work. They also, as usual, used responsibly sourced fabrics—yarns made from eucalyptus or from recycled plastic bottles. To reduce waste, upcycling archival textiles and vintage clothing also came into play (look at the gorgeous patchwork jacket on the model in the first image below). "We wanted to bring old fabrics back to life, giving them new longevity and purpose," the Etros said. "For us, it’s not only about the final destination—it’s about the journey."




https://www.etro.com/

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