FASHION 156

DAILY BLOG

FASHION156′S GUEST CONTRIBUTOR – DESIGNER FLIK HALL CREATION/ 14.12.11

Flik Hall, emerging womenswear designer is guest blogging all week, and following an illuminating 5 Question interview on Monday, where she talked about her ideal getaway and future plans, she created this unique piece for us of twinkly lights shining through one of her signature prints.

Here, she tells us about her creation: “For SS12 my collection encompassed prints of octopi; one print includes lots of tiny holes of the octopus’s suckers. I was intrigued to see when the holes were cut out, how I could create a pattern of the octopi that would span over a much larger scope than the body.

Trying out light was a natural jump for me, I was pleased to find when I used the right strength of light bulb, a lovely harmony between retaining the print and casting the pattern from the light could be achieved. I like to think the octopus is shining from within in a way.”

Image by: Jack Willsmore

Fashion 156

DAILY BLOG

/ 12.12.11

FASHION156′S GUEST CONTRIBUTOR – DESIGNER 

FLIK HALL 5Q INTERVIEW

We continue with our Designer Guest Contributing Series, and today have invited emerging womenswear designer Flik Hall to share the first of three post she will submit this week. We flagged up Flik's Spring/Summer '12 collection on the blog a little while ago, and were so taken with her oceanic inspired prints that we wanted to know a little more about her and her inspiration. Her playful clothing has had a real impact on the fashion world and as her profile as a designer starts to pick up some momentum, she tells us about her plans for the future, some disasters she's overcome, and what she would take to a desert island.

Your SS12 collection reveals a yearning for the wildness of the ocean. If you were washed up on a desert island, what 3 things would you wish to have with you? - My Acorn necklace that supposedly gives you a long life. - My ancient leopard waistcoat from my Great Aunt Bettie so that I could blend in with the other animals to avoid been eaten – I wish. - A solar powered CD Player.

Your current collection uses futuristic shapes and materials; what are your future ambitions for your label? I am always trying to find ways of using materials in a different way and I am very keen to branch out into other products such as shoes but not in a rush, just when it feels right but I would like to keep the business fairly small and exclusive. I want to continue to build my brand and work with more amazing people, there is always new opportunities arising.

Continuing with a watery theme, can you think of a time in your career when you have been thrown in at the deep end? and what did you learn from it? I have just received my leather back from the printers and it is entirely the wrong colour! It will takes ages to re-print and there are very few places that do it, I have only just calmed down and I received it two days ago. In the past, I left a garment that was part of my new collection on the tube and I never got it back, I had 2 days to re-make it before the look book shoot.

Sea travel has long been an escape from the hum-drum of daily life -what's your escapism? I make up little stories when I’m stressed and paint them and burn black coconut incense. I am going riding around the desert in Morocco and camping every night over Christmas.

Much of your SS12 collection is inspired by the colours and texture of octopi - do you have any other examples of finding beauty in the unconventional within your work? I would not say that I’m always inspired by the unconventional, there is just so many things that are not traditionally considered aesthetically nice that I think are beautiful. I am looking at lots of images of dentistry, fractures and luxation’s at the moment, which are fascinating. I found an old medical plate of the hipbone opened up and it looks like a flower is blossoming out of it.

Posted by: Katie Tillyer

L'Autre Magazine

Flik Hall SS12 Octi-Lace Skirt in L'Autre Magazine

L'Autre Magazine

Miranda Keyes for Flik Hall Nipple Tassel in L'Autre Magazine

L'Autre Magazine

H: So tell me a little bit about this new Spring Summer 12 collection? Where did all these ideas come from?
F: I knew from the beginning of this collection that I wanted to look at something quite textual. My Ideas wondered everywhere at the start like most collections do, initially I started looking into wet moist objects like sausages. Soon after I found myself wondering around Hackney market in the fishmongers looking at octopuses. As a whole I would say, artists such as Monica Cook and Kate D inspired my collection.

Above mood board of Ideas for FLIK HALL SS12 collection. 

H: What’s your favorite piece in your new collection?
F: It would have to be the shirtdress in the opening part of the film I did with Ashley Joiner. I like the combination of fabrics in this piece quite obscure, feminine and lustrous. It’s my favorite fabric in the collection. 

ABOVE FLIK HALL SS12 video "I hear you calling" by Ashley Joiner 

H: You collaborated with Ashley Joiner for your video, have you considered collaborating with other people? If so who and what would you do?
I actually have already done whole accessories collection for my SS12 collection with Miranda Keyes… Its not actually up on my website yet but we did a whole accessories collection made out of octopus, including a little octopus nip tassel.H: Have you ever eaten an octopus?
F: Yes

H: If you had a pet octopus what would you call it?
F: Emmanuelle 

H: What do you do when you’re not working?
F: I’ve always been interested in antique jewelry because my mums an antique dealer. I go around antique markets around Camden passage, Brighton, Glasgow and Oxford and collect jewelry. I also like making little instillations and pieces of art that I can put up around the home. 

H: What was the last exhibition you went to?
F: Frederique Morrel’s work in the Stephanie Hoppen Gallery on Walton Street I absolutely loved the couples work. 
H: If you had a fashion show how would you imagine it to look like?
F: It depends on the collection really but I wouldn’t necessarily have someone going up and down a catwalk… maybe something like having it on an ice rink for an Autumn Winter collection or something.

H: Have you thought about your Autumn Winter collection yet? 

F: I’ve already designed most of my new Autumn Winter collection… it’s not finalized though and there will be a lot of tweaks before its finished. When I usually work on a collection I always start on working with print first. I’ve been looking a lot into dentistry images of fractured limbs. Its not really going to be about obvious parts of the body it’s going to be more of a close up of sketches and textures around the body. I’ve also been looking at things like fossils. 

Autumn Winter or Spring Summer?
Spring summer 

How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered for doing something that was worth remembering such as my print because I put most of my ideas into print.  

FASHION 156

Flik Hall’s spring/summer collection is a playful collection of mix and match separates, which is something that I can always get on board with. The kaleidoscopic patterns and bold cut out shapes are softened by pretty pastel colours and sweet sleeveless shirts.

Particularly striking are the trompe-l’oeil midi dresses featuring a stripe of pattern down the middle and a light pastel around the side. It’s a collection that seems very finished, and with a distinctly linear feel, with each piece feeling unique at the same time. And as an aside, I can see the model’s hair pattern that looks like seaweed imprints on the beach, becoming a new obsession that I will be desperately trying to emulate in the future.

Image source: Flik Hall

Posted by: Katie Tillyer

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TAGS: designer, fashion designer, flik hall,

IDOL MAGAZINE

Since fashion label Flik Hall hit the scene in 2009, the amount of press attention has been on-going. A graduate of Central St. Martins with work experience from House of Holland and Marios Schwab under her belt, it would appear that Hall was already on her way to success. With publications including Grazia, Vogue Turkey and Elle US featuring her designs it’s no wonder the SS 2012 collection has been surrounded by hype and for good reason.

The latest collection is unique and unusual, focused on the ethereal look of cacaelia (half octopus, half human). Tentacle-like patterns splattering and panelling the layered silk gowns and leather shift dresses, give an eerie yet tough feel to the edgy label. Playsuits and jumpsuits in swirling prints of nude and muted tones with harsh cut-outs to reveal pure flesh, bring sea-like connotations to the waters of the human eye.

Bringing in a touch of shock appeal, an electric blue structured blouse and a pair of jodhpur-style trousers shake up the rhythm of the aquatic theme, giving variety to the mix.

With luxury and innovative fabrics featured within the range, from neoprene (most commonly used for wetsuits) to sheer chiffon the oxymoron of incorporating stronger materials with the more delicate reinforces the true hybrid direction of this otherworldy designer.

Flik Hall puts sea sick out of the picture and sea cool into the waves of the fashion world.