Sweaty Betty Spring/Summer 2018

Retro Futures

This collection was inspired by a trip to Barcelona, with architecture at the forefront. I was inspired both by Antoni Gaudi and Ricardo Bofill, two vastly different architects who represent different times in Barcelona’s history.

My first collection, entitled “Dystopia” was inspired by Ricardo Bofill’s image of a 1970s urban utopia, namely with his Walden 7 building, which I was lucky enough to visit. Inspired by its bold Brutalist shapes, and referencing classic sporty 1970s shapes I utilised modern technical fabrics to create a retro look. Wide stripes, baseball-inspiration and 1970s Americana influenced the silhouettes, while interiors of the same period inspired the colour palette and prints. Prints from this collection were sourced from original wallpaper and hand-painted textile prints from The Vintage Collection London.

My second collection was inspired by Antoni Gaudi’s use of nature in his architectural forms. From my feeling of being under water in La Sagrada Familia to Gaudi’s sea-life embossed street tiles paving the walkways of Barcelona, I was inspired to look under the sea for inspiration. The colours of coral reefs and jellyfish inspired the print direction, with the colour palette borrowed from neon-glowing deep sea fish.