Having vividly recalled reading an article in The Philosopher's Magazine where Elizabeth Scarbrough eloquently described the allure of ruins in 'Ruminations on Ruinations'. She remarked, 'I believe these sites are more than mere historical curiosities. Those of us who are fortunate enough to travel spend a great deal of time and money to stand on the earth and look upon the vestiges of architectural structures. We could much more easily look at professional photos of these cultural landmarks on the Internet. We could read about their histories from any one of dozens of various historical accounts. Yet this somehow isn’t enough’.
Scarbrough continued, 'There is something special about being there. In the context of architectural ruins, it just isn’t comparable to experience them through another’s eyes or words. We feel a pull to bear personal witness'. While elaborate descriptions can only go so far, the right depiction of moments through imagery would perhaps make the experience more vivid and compelling.
Marrakesh’s Medina, an old town bathed in soft terra cotta hues, has preserved its architectural charm since the late 50s. Walls are ripped, walls are merely holding up. Each corner of its narrow alleyways appears similar yet distinct, raw, but picturesque.
‘Every time I look at them, even in the same corner, I discover something new or different. It's the same for me when I look at Rothko or Mitchell’s paintings'. He added, 'A setting that shows signs of wear and tear, with clothing that appears lived-in, that's where I want to be'. Though he can't live there, Buzz has been captivated by this charming town since his last visit in 2018 before the house's establishment, frequently expressing his admiration for its beauty. During our campaign shoot, photographer Alex Natt also stated, 'We are trying to capture imageries that no longer exist. We are constantly searching for things from the past'. Over the years, colours in Marrakesh have subtly influenced our designs, permeating our silhouettes, colour palettes, even fabrications. Coming back to shoot our lookbook is our creators doubling down on our vision to pay homage to a place we so love.
Ruins reminded us to learn to cherish, to appreciate asymmetry and flaws that are found in nature. It is the wabi-sabi (侘び寂び) aesthetic, or state of mind. Thoughtful designs would always adhere to an important design philosophy 'form follows function’. As our cofounder Andy would like to put it, ‘Good clothing does not require shouty or gimmicky details. Every part of the detail is just implemented to be brought into use. Tranquillity is what we seek’, when designing our collections. Our Peak Summer collection focuses on the agility and lightness of clothing, in response to the unforgiving, almost unbearable heat from our homeland. Simple silhouettes, with good cutting and details, and most importantly, great textiles.
Rather than flat, plain weaves, we seek out textiles with unexpected flecks and irregular patterns that add surprise and rarity. Highlights of this season include roughed-out raw linen with irregular crisscrossing weaves on our Freeman Popover, linen/cotton dobbies for Lazyman Jackets with raised textures, mélange cotton jersey for a visually advanced look, and deerskin and tan suede with natural, varied grains and colour.
We hope you enjoy the entire Peak Summer series, including our lookbook and collection. Starting this Thursday (July 11), and every week thereafter, we will feature articles on our newly launched designs from this season. Make sure to also keep an eye out for hidden Easter Eggs along the way.
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Moments captured by Alex Natt, modelled by Tee. All fine clothing by The Anthology, with handcrafted sunglasses provided by Mr. Tortoise in Soho, London.
Shop the Peak Summer collection.
