AREA Spring Summer 2020

AREA Spring Summer 2020

Represented by Ritual Projects.

For this season designers Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk wanted to create a world that examines adornment, embellishment, volume and personal identity.

Cultural travel and exchange

The starting point of the collection was the idea of a name plate necklace. Historically pioneered by African Americans in the 80’s and 90’s to express individuality, AREA examined this idea by translating their brand name into different languages. They incorporated the name plate throughout the collection creating garments made of jewelry, a play between logo branding and individuality in a global context.

 
AREA

[portfolio_slideshow id=86485 align=center width=699 click=advance thumbnailsize=40 showcaps=false]

They continued this idea developing intricate laser cut shirts, pants, leather straps on shoes and handbags, and later broderie anglaise fabric.

Romantic Neo-Victorian modernism

AREA continued their historical journey going back to Victorian cage constructions ancient arabesque metal work, armor and wire sculptures and started translating these shapes into metal cup chain dresses with cage like 3-D godet inserts. Creating voluminous armor-like dresses that echo the female body and its curves hinting at couture.

50’s & 60’s Americana

Domesticated suburbia becomes couture with patterns like Vichy, gingham and florals. Classic patterns like gingham morph into a ‘A’ shaped gingham houndstooth, as an update on the graphic black and white pied de poule from last season. 50’s and 60’s volumes are distorted creating twisted lady-likeness.

Satin organza is draped in cocoon like ruffles and created into faux fur spaghetti strips that resemble hair and fur. Liberty and ‘Laura Ashley’ florals are translated into sensual summer crèpe and iridescent signature lame’s giving them a futuristic update. Hand-doodled flowers are translated into rich colorful crystal chain motifs, that are woven together into lavish crystal cup chain garments and adornments carried out from accessories handbags and make up.

The exploration of gender roles and clichés. We later hinted to masculine corporate clichés like beards translated in cage like crystal. The female embellished in masculinity. Crystal beards oversized shirting tailoring and ties.

AREA created an otherworldly universe with a free-spirited sense of 70’s and experimental couture.

All crystals provided by PRECIOSA
Styling by Clare Bryne
Makeup by ADDICTION

##

Learn More

@ritualprojectsparis

With love,

FWO

Hannah Longman
Hannah Longman
From fashion school in NYC to the front row, Hannah works to promote fashion and lifestyle as the communications liaison of Fashion Week Online®, responsible for timely communication of press releases and must-see photo sets.

Follow Fashion Week Online® on Instagram for exclusive content

You may also enjoy ...

Stars, Style, and Surf: NYLON Residency at The Surf Lodge Lit Up 4th of July Week

NYLON returned to The Surf Lodge in Montauk for summer’s biggest celebration—a 5-day experience blending accessibility, fashion, music, and celebrity culture powered by its...

Viktor&Rolf Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2025 Paris Fashion Week

‘Angry Birds’ For Autumn/Winter 2025, Viktor&Rolf present a striking study in duality: a parade of fifteen pairs of identical garments, thirty looks in total, that...

Elie Saab Haute Couture Paris Fall Winter 2025-26

La Nouvelle Cour At a salon privé in Paris, le beau monde falls silent as a coterie of newcomers sweeps through the door. Radiant in...