DESIGNER NAMES: Wouter Baartmans and Amber Siegel
ORIGIN: Wouter is Dutch and Amber is British.
BACKGROUND: This London-based design duo met while at Viktor & Rolf, and were united in their belief of beautiful craftsmanship and imaginative design.
Wouter and Amber were both 2010 graduates of the prestigious Menswear Fashion Design and Technology BA and MA courses at London College of Fashion.
DESIGN SIGNATURES: “Classic elegance with modern masculinity.”
IDEAL CLIENT: “Confident with an eye for detail. He is quietly indulgent.”
TRADEMARK: “Our trench and parka coats with fur trims. This season, I think there will be some new favourites with our reversible outerwear and sports coats.”
THE COLLECTION: “This season is based on South Pacific aviation, rooted in nostalgic, masculine silhouettes while using iconic colonial English/Asian heritage emblems. The double tear-drop of the paisley motif appears in irresistible abstract textiles, brushed iridescent silks and perforated suede bomber jackets. We have developed tribal-like military emblems-interspersedwith functionality- while still channeling romantic and complex characters from popular culture, such as Ralph Fiennes aka The English patient. SS14 also ignites futuristic masculinity with a familiar nod to menswear classics, celebrating and developing the Harrington, field jacket, lounge trench and Hawaiian shirt.”
IMPACT OF LONDON COLLECTIONS:MEN: “London Collections: Men has had a dramatic impact on our personal creativity, exploring and celebrating the community of British menswear. There is a great pulsating rhythm of celebratory exploration in the air amongst many of our peers and friends in the industry. We are constantly striving towards premium delivery and execution, highlighting our demand for the balance between history; modern invention and the energy of the present. LC: M has not only allowed the UK scene to unite, but also for the international menswear, fashion and creative arts industries to converse like at no other moment…Fruitful and rewarding times lay on our horizons."
FIRST PIECE OF MENSWEAR DESIGNED: “Jointly in 2007/8, a hybrid lab coat in a performance fabric, to allow a luminescent element and exploring fluidity, rigidity and simplified tailoring.”