With a collaborative repertoire that so far this year already includes Swedish singer Lykke Li and Russian designer Vika Gazinskaya, & Other Stories have proved they are no strangers to working with exciting women. The next on the list? Sadie Williams – the CSM graduate whose innovative approach to textiles and love of all things bizarre makes her a stand-out presence in the young creative scene. Talking to Dazed last year, she told us about her “low weird threshold” and how she bonds, treats and embosses Lurex until it is strong enough to hold up evening gowns. It's doing her well so far – at 27, she’s worked with the likes of Marc by Marc Jacobs and J.W.Anderson. Her hook-up with & Other Stories – whose affinity for the unusual mirrors Williams's direction – is an ideal partnering.
It was the Elvis-obsessed Zurich street gangs from the 50s, 60s and 70s chronicled in Karlheinz Weinberger's Rebel Youth photography that provided some inspiration for the collection. “I really love the way subjects mix textures and embellish or layer their clothes in such a youthful, free-spirited and sincere way,” Williams told us. It's an influence that can be read in the mix of neoprene, wool and metallic appliqué in the collection, where pieces are designed to be layered and coordinated. This exclusive stop motion video created by Williams and her brother Joe emphasises this in a playful celebration of the collection. Animating is a hobby for duo, who run a site dedicated to it, called Sadie and Joe. “I reckon a lot of mates would get sick of each other after making tiny movements for days on end,” Williams confessed. “So maybe we work well together because we're siblings and we have no choice in that!”
To celebrate the collection and the latest Sadie and Joe animation, we asked the designer to give us her biggest inspirations in the form of YouTube videos:
THE SEEDS - “CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE YOU MINE” (1966)
SHE SAID:
“I had a phase of listening to this song and some others like it quite a lot when I was working on this collection.”
COURRÈGES FROM FASHION TV: A HISTORY OF 60S DESIGNER ANDRÉ COURRÈGES
SHE SAID:
“I love the quality of the old film showing these fun girls really enjoying wearing the amazing, graphic, sporty and modern clothes.”
SPACE AGE FASHION ANDRÉ COURRÈGES – DIM DAM DOM (1970)
SHE SAID:
“I will always love his work and think he is bloody amazing. This video is so cool, a bit bizarre and the visuals and fashion are so good.”
