Fashion week has been all the buzz on social media, the news and on many people's minds. After combing through photos and runway videos online, I can't help but realize I am drawn to very specific designers.
Mara Hoffman. From her 2013 & 2014 collections.
Let's talk about one of my favorite designers, Mara Hoffman. As you can probably tell by the photos, Mara Hoffman's pieces and collections focus on patterns, and not just any patterns. We are talking about intricate geometric designs with nods to traditional tribal patterns but with a contemporary twist (sound familiar? ) . The juxtaposition of the edgy, detailed lines in her prints against the soft, floating cuts and material of her garments, are her signature.
Mara Hoffman is a NYC based designer, born in Buffalo, NY. She studied at Parsons School of Design in NY as well as Central Saint Martins in London. Her ready-to-wear line, Circle (2000-2005) was all one of a kind pieces focusing on dying techniques, batik and traditional elements. Circle then evolved into a more brand and sales oriented line and then in 2008 she launched her first swimsuit collection. This is where I learned of Hoffman and began to obsess over her designs and style.
Mara Hoffman. From her 2013 & 2014 collections.
What I find most interesting about her collections are that they doesn't quite fit a trend cycle. She manages to create clothing that are just unique as a whole and while each collection has a specific theme with nature or travel, her work becomes more of a genre than of a seasonal collection. It's funny to say these pieces are "timeless" when really they are of this decade, but that is fashion. We take what we know and what we like, and try to twist it a bit, create a hybrid with other styles, borrow from other cultures or contexts and be creative. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but these are the types of patterns that inspire me, drive me to keep creating, pushing the envelope and design design design.