Victor Li Fall 21 “Suspension of Time”
The scenery inspired the perfect photograph that I could only capture with my eyes and store in my memories.” VICTOR LI
“After a revisit of the achingly beautiful film Brokeback Mountain, the sustained melancholy evoked a desire in me to experience Wyoming’s picturesque mountains and plains. I took a road trip through Wyoming’s vast and still life setting, into the idyllic yet lonesome, mountains.
Red dust trails paved the paths in the rear-view mirror, burnt orange cliffs emerged and passed by the car window, and the lonely sky cast an ethereal shadow, draping over the majestic mountains that filled my peripheral vision.
Victor’s travels remain the source of inspiration for the VICTOR LI FW21 collection. The lingering picturesque landscapes are re-imagined onto fabrics: washed denim mimics the erosion of granite and sand, and is layered with colors that reflect the plunge of clear water. Motifs from vintage postcards collected along the way, and interspersed into the overall collection inspiration, as well. Silhouettes are loose and free but with elements of strong tailoring. Denim has a strong presence throughout the collection, a durable yet versatile fabric that delivers its functionality and style throughout decades.
The denim appears in different forms including raw, tie-dyed, and printed, and is accompanied by a liberal use of plaid and patterns throughout the collection. The collection highlights an interpretation of life once had on a western ranch, now found in a suspension of time.
Accessories, while informal, are vibrant. Western-inspired bolo ties are renewed with vegan leather cords and polished metal concho. To round out looks, the Saddle bag, as its name suggests, takes inspiration from a horse riding trail bag, and the Tool bag, complete with a buckle fastener, is made to wear across the body or on the waist. Finally, cowboy boots are introduced in a denim-leather combo as well as the classic polished black leather, finished with spur strap details.
PATRICK MICHAEL HUGHES -SENIOR FASHION EDITOR
Honglin Cai Photographer
Xiao Han Film Director
Leo Zhang Cinematographer
Sean Crayg Sound Engineer
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Patrick Michael Hughes is a fashion and decorative arts historian. He writes about fashion culture past and present making connections to New York, London and Copenhagen's fashion weeks with an eye toward men's fashion. He joined IRK Magazine as a fashion men's editor during winter of 2017.
He is often cited as a historical source for numerous pieces appearing in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, LVMH, Conde Nast, Highsnobiety and others. His fashion career includes years as a fashion reporter/producer of branded content for the New York local news in the hyper digital sector. Patrick's love of travel and terrain enabled him to becoming an experienced cross-country equestrian intensively riding in a number of locations in South America Scandinavia,The United Kingdom and Germany. However, he is not currently riding, but rather speaking internationally to designers, product development teams, marketing teams and ascending designers in the US, Europe and China.
Following his BA in the History of Art from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York he later completed graduate studios in exhibition design in New York. it was with the nudge and a conversation in regard to a design assignment interviewing Richard Martin curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art he was encouraged to consider shifting his focus to the decorative arts with a concentration in fashion history and curation.
Patrick completed graduate studies 17th and 18th century French Royal interiors and decoration and 18th century French fashion culture at Musée Les Arts Decoratifs-Musée de Louvre in Paris. Upon his return to New York along with other classes and independent studies in American fashion he earned his MA in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from the Parsons/Cooper Hewitt Design Museum program in New York. His final specialist focus was in 19th century English fashion and interiors with distinction in 20th century American fashion history and design.
Currently, he is an Associate Teaching Professor at Parsons School of Design leading fashion history lecture-studios within the School of Art and Design History and Theory,
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