Fortune, the South African minimalist label run by Georgia East has always shied away from the vibrant colour and curve hugging silhouettes that have become somewhat stereotypical for African fashion, in favour of looser fits and earth tones. Their newest collection, Spring/Summer 16’s ‘Thalassa’ (named for the primeval spirit of the sea in pre-Grecian mythology) continues to explore the label’s fascination with minimalism.
The clothes are anti-silhouette and are volume heavy, allowing the natural curve of the human body to give the garments their shape. She reworks the basic jumpsuit and wrap dress, favoring volume and draping over fit with a drawstring to allow the clothes work for several body sizes. There are sash trousers that flatter the hips and thighs, as well as a cutaway and a colum shift dress done in mesh. East describes her inspirations for the collection as thus.
“Set in a post-apocalyptic environment in which manmade textile has amalgamated with natural forces, the THALASSA collection embodies clothing that is created by the elements for the natural world. Using the ever-changing mood of the ocean and inspired by the mythology of Ancient Greece, the collection features organic silhouettes that rely on the body’s own unique shape to form the garment.
In the time of the Hellenic Ancients, THALASSA meant ‘sea’ and she was the first primordial sea goddess to come from the union of the Titans. Also the name of a moon belonging to the planet Neptune, THALASSA holds a strong feminine pull over her realm – as relentless as the waves, as eternal as the tides. She dances over the once-proud monuments of men as they crumble into her embrace.”
It is amazing that East is predominantly creating a collection that is flattering without being attention grabbing and works largely just as well as separates as they do ensembles. We need more collections that can fit into a larger aesthetic, clothes that can integrate into our daily lives.
A,
Shop the collection at www.fortuneclothing.co.za.