Designer Sharon Wauchob transforms a flooding setback into an opportunity for innovation, blending historical elements with modern techniques in her latest collection.
Sharon Wauchob’s latest collection has emerged from an unexpected challenge: a flooding incident that affected her archive. Speaking to Vogue, Wauchob recounted her initial thoughts during this setback, stating, “Maybe there is a reason for this.” Rather than letting the situation deter her, the designer saw it as an opportunity to test her creativity and independence, ultimately feeling more courageous in her approach.
The flooding incident occurred approximately halfway through the design process, compelling Wauchob to immerse herself in her past work. This experience allowed her to incorporate historical elements into her new collection, reflecting a blend of boldness and a sense of introversion. In her show notes, she emphasized, “The beauty of fashion illustration is often in the exaggerated strokes often left behind on the page,” suggesting that she aimed to bring the spirit of this artistic form into her garments. She did so by photographing her work-in-progress pieces and creating drawings based on the images.
Wauchob’s design approach is characterized by her use of watercolor techniques, which lend a gentle quality to her bold gestures. This balance between hard and soft materials was evident in the collection. The show opened with a striking trench-like cape coat made from wool silk, designed to be worn with either free arms or within sleeves, complemented by a feather-trimmed bandana. The final look featured a jacket with architectural sleeves, adorned with a cascading marabou throw on one side. Other highlighted pieces included a burgundy coat with a canvas texture and a soft faux fur collar.
In a noteworthy exploration of textiles, Wauchob challenged traditional perceptions of materials. For instance, a blush-colored jacket, thought to be nylon, was crafted from an extraordinarily fine wool that appeared nearly transparent when paired with an exaggerated faux fur scarf. Adding to her innovative approach, she employed techniques that embraced ‘perfect imperfection.’ Velvet’s typically immaculate pile was intentionally “destroyed” through pleating after sewing, and slips featured edges that were irregularly hand-pinked and hand-finished.
A signature of Wauchob’s style, spiral cutting, was utilized extensively throughout the collection. The fourth look showcased an inky black blouson worn upside-down, resulting in a distinctive fit. Spirals cut from shadow-like black chiffon appeared to hover gracefully around the body, while cascading lengths of glossy caviar black silk flowed down the chest and legs, resonating with what Wauchob described as a “sense of inner maximalism.”
Through this collection, Wauchob presents a thoughtful and creative response to adversity, integrating her past with an innovative vision for the future of her fashion designs.
Source: Noah Wire Services
