Photo: Courtesy of Hazar Jawabra
Fashion’s sustainability focus is putting artisanal eclecticism and craftwork front, right and center. For FW21, Gabriela Hearst offered some seriously chic propositions for both her namesake line and her first collection for Chloé, embracing a circular approach while staying true to her signature earthy puritanism and superior tailoring. Think elegant off-white ponchos and striped knit maxi dresses. Artfully disheveled wool–complete with loose strands and fringing–showed up at Acne and Salvatore Ferragamo, while Jonathan Anderson added a cartoonish twist to bold block suede color suiting with oversized ‘straw’ tassels. And it’s not just fashion week regulars who are tapping the trend.
Photo: Courtesy of Chloé
Kaleidoscopic, otherworldly, and unrestrained, the work of young Palestinian designer Hazar Jawabra embraces traditional techniques passed down from generation to generation. “The art of knitting and embroidery is a major part of my Palestinian identity,” she says. “Each household has a special pattern in a specific color, unique to it and the lady of the house… I’ve learned from these creative women and filled my collection with Palestinian history and art while adding my own personal touch.” The result is gender-defying “wearable pieces of art” that reflect the history of a region rich in artisanal crafts. “Every design involves a unique process,” she says, including free sampling, 2D and 3D design on the body. “My collection tells the story I aim to present: it’s colorful, radical, joyful, funny and hard–all the contradictory characteristics and accumulated feelings that have built my existential experience.”
Photo: Courtesy of Hazar Jawabra
Admittedly, heavy knits might not be the first thing you reach for when contemplating what to wear in sun-soaked climes, but chunky layers aren’t the only way to embrace modern eclecticism. Scroll through to shop our pick of craftwork-inspired fashion buys…
