Vivienne Tam Takes Us on a Journey Through the Himalayas
Known for her east-meets-west aesthetic, New York Fashion Week favorite Vivienne Tam, debuted 43 looks for the FW18 season. Inspired by an “expedition through the Himalayas to Tibet. Evoking the infinite essence of love, and the discovery of its vibrant topography, art, culture and indigenous people.”
The collection entitled, “UNITY. WHOLENESS. INFINITY.” is filled with nomadic looks achieved through silhouettes of loose and multi-layered separates that encompass a pallet of earth and sky. Belted and cinched plaid jackets with puff sleeves, blouson tops and sky-high turtlenecks are paired with long, gathered or pleated skirts and puffy quilted parkas. The feel of nomadic layering is further reflected in Tam’s incorporation of contrasting patterns, multiple plaids and fabrics of wool, silk, corduroy, tulle mesh, lace and Mongolian hair trim. Symbolic prints of Universal Mandalas and colorful, hand-crafted embroideries of the Buddhist deity Green Tara, who is associated with protection from fear, bring a deeper connection to Tam’s narrative of ‘expedition’ and ‘discovery’. The collection, rendered in varying hues of burnt orange, gradations of earthy khaki, red clay, sky blue and deep turquoise, conjures the ever-changing view of hiking the Himalayas at sunset.
A favorite look was number 43 – a black floor-length dress covered in a repeating pattern of white Mandalas, with a red overlay formed by intricately embroidered images of Green Tara that climb through the bodice to create a faux neckline and sleeve.
A pioneer in merging fashion and technology, Tam’s FW18 collection has left no stone unturned with the incorporation of smart textiles and wearable electronics. The collection includes coats and warm knit sweaters reinforced with smart, conductive fabric that stealthily contain a power source to keep the urban explorer warm as they head fashionably and fearlessly into their next journey.
The presentation of Vivienne Tam’s FW18 collection proved to be an all-encompassing experience that included an audience of fashion and entertainment a-listers including: Carol Alt, Kelly Bensimon, Taryn Manning and Jordin Sparks, along with the visual projection of a ceiling-high rotating Mandala and sounds of Tibetan drumming and Buddhist chanting that transformed Gallery 1 of Spring Studios into Tam’s imagination come to life.
All photos courtesy of Dan Lecca.
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Stacy Seiler is the Art Editor of Irk Magazine, joining the publication in August 2016. An accomplished artist, designer, writer and Assistant Professor at Parsons School for Design, Stacy has been a pioneer in the design industry since 1997. She began her career as a web designer and programmer focused on the corporate identity and branding of Fortune 500 companies including: FOX, News Corporation, AIG and McGraw-Hill.
For the past 11 years, Stacy has lectured on topics of Design Iteration, Typography, Information Visualization, Fashion and Fine Art at the esteemed Parsons School of Design, while balancing her time as a Contributing Writer of Arts and Culture at Downtown Magazine and a Docent of History and Preservation at Judd Foundation in New York City.
Through her research and drawings, Stacy’s art practice focuses on preserving the cultural past of New York City and beyond by exploring current issues of neglect and decay surrounding industrial architecture and its iconic connection to working-class communities. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally over the past 15 years.
Stacy graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art, with a BFA in Fine Arts and a Minor in Art History. She received her MFA in Fine Arts from Parsons. Her work can be found on stacyseiler.com along with her daily musings on Instagram
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