constructionista: review of laura fulk’s “suffocate”
Tonight, I went to The Lab Theater to see the Suffocate runway show by local designer Laura Fulk. I really enjoyed the fact that this show was focused on the fashions. Many of the fashion events in Minneapolis are accompanied by a lavish party or some sort of band/dj entertainment before hand. It was refreshing to have a very real runway experience.
I had somewhat “prepared” myself for the presentation. Fulk’s is an extremely talented designer with incredible construction. She has a strong aesthetic that is very avant-garde and at times theatrical. I knew what was going to be expected…
Out of the entire presentation, only a handful of looks were wearable. I enjoyed seeing the hand-printed fabrics and the interesting use of fabric and other materials. The show was definitely entertaining, although very few looks were wearable. There was a lot of innovation behind the garments as well. From hoods unfolding to reveal cape-like additions to outfits to twins walking the runway hand in hand in a white dress connected by magnets at the middle only to pull apart and reveal the brightly painted underside of the garment. The runway presentation incorporated many art elements- which is risky with local fashion. The credibility is not yet here in Minneapolis that you can show a collection that is not wearable or consumer friendly.
Overall, I really appreciated the risks that Laura Fulk took. I admire her construction and design skills as well as her modern, almost space-age Ghesquiere meets Hussein Chalayan aesthetic.
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[...] Original post by alexandraandthecity [...]
It’s interesting that you note the influence of Ghesquiere and Chalayan in Fulk’s line but make a point of saying that her pieces are not “wearable”. You will find that those designers also create unwearable, out of the ordinary functional garments. It’s all about the designer’s concept; in reality a ready to wear line from the runway would be re-worked from the prototype and made into a more saleable, practical line. Fashion would be boring if we could just throw it on and go out into the world without a care.