AFTER it was announced last week that London Fashion Week would be fur-free, it seemed fitting that a sustainable designer would kick-off the SS19 shows. Richard Malone did it and he did it well. For his SS19 collection, the Irish designer continued to impress and slowly chip away the stigma that sustainable cannot be fashionable.
Models strode to the sound of Mariah Carey while clutching bags made using recycled tarpaulin from the sides of trucks, provided by sustainable label Freitag. Malone’s inclusion of sustainable material didn’t stop there. Appearing frequently in the form of figure-hugging pieces, Econyl – a sustainable nylon fabric that can be reused and repurposed, contrasted the lightweight double-faced satin that made up the majority of the collection. The vivid spectrum of colours included from lime, blue and gold to magenta was inspired by micro-fibre cloths.
His meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship ability were highlighted by the lack of prints included. However, one of the few prints is photographs of strangers’ faces in crowds taken from the designer’s camera roll which juxtaposed the ’80s aesthetic of the rest of the collection. Simple colour blocked garments such as biker trousers and dresses were elevated through fabric manipulation and embellishment with fringing, beading and netting.
Since being in the spotlight, Malone has been an avid advocate for women’s rights. In May, he published an open letter campaigning for the Repeal The 8th campaign. His love for women is evident in this collection which successfully presented the Richard Malone woman as empowered conscientious force to be wreckoned with.
by Tom Halford