Rural Inspirations: British and Irish Countryside in the Media
The rolling hills of Britain and Ireland are one of those things that are instantly recognizable. This is so much so that these countryside scenes are used as icons and motifs throughout entertainment, instantly centering the media on these rural locations in an engaging way. Take online bingo casino games like George and the Dragon and Clover Rollover. These games use lush greens and sweeping hills to encapsulate rural British and Irish landscapes respectively, making the gameplay more immersive for players.
Elsewhere, iconic countryside scenes can be found across film and TV, particularly in period dramas like Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Bridgerton (2020-). The countryside is stylized as a place of solace and restoration, and an escape from everyday life.
Of course, the thought of countryside-inspired fashion no doubt conjures up images of graphic motifs like clouds and hills, or attire that you would wear to traverse these rural landscapes. That is, until now. As fashion begins to lean more heavily into innovation and making a statement, enter designer Nathan Slate, who has something to say about the environment.
Distinctive Somerset Designer Hits the Catwalk
Nathan Slate, the name behind SL-ATE cafe and studio in Bridgwater, Somerset, is one of the latest designers to emerge through Fashion Scout’s Ones to Watch event at the latest biannual Fashion Week in London. The event is always an experience, aiming to help highlight the work of up-and-coming designers and lesser-known artists. But for Nathan Slate, the experience meant even more, marking his catwalk debut.
A countryside enthusiast, Nathan Slate is inspired by his surroundings and has a passion for mixing art and activism. And that is certainly what his latest collection, Mourning: A new dawn where humanity’s last hymn is flies buzzing, achieves.
To create this collection of textile-heavy garments, Nathan Slate is known to collect things while walking around the countryside, which he later incorporates into his outfits. Think driftwood, natural crystals, and even litter. Indeed, his unusual approach also involves leaving the fabric outside to be dyed by mud, rain, and sunlight over time to more authentically represent the countryside that surrounds.
Weaving in the activist element, this dystopian collection comments on environmental issues, combining ceramics and concrete elements, as well as dark brush strokes, to contrast against the neutral palettes and natural fabrics like wool and linen.
Other Woollen Collections With Creative Ideas
Nathan Slate’s superstar pieces use natural wools, sometimes surrounding concrete blocks. Even so, wool absolutely shines in his collection. Elsewhere, wool is seemingly making its way onto the mainstage. Earlier this year, Swedish designer Stina Randestad, known for her design for singer Björk and reaching the semi-finals for the LVMH Prize, turned heads when she partnered with the Swedish Wool Initiative project.
The avant-garde designer created unique pieces to be presented at Stockholm Fashion Week that were entirely made from Swedish wool. This once again mixed fashion with activism, highlighting the need to reduce waste of the material when only half of that generated is actually used, as many places opt for cheaper, imported wools instead.
While not quite the catwalk, UK high-street store John Lewis recently became the first brand to unveil a knitwear collection made exclusively from repurposed and reclaimed wool. The circular unisex knitwear collection, Remade in Britain, uses wool that is collected through their signature FashionCycle scheme, which is repurposed by British wool recycling brand inouiio.
The Remade in Britain collection consists of 19 pieces, including five jumpers, beanies, and scarves, which are made using circular machines, reducing waste from production, and making it easier for these garments to be recycled again at the end of their use.
As you can see, Nathan Slate is just one designer turning to more natural, rural materials like wool in such a way that focusses on sustainability and environmentalism.
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