airi isoda for wrk-shp.

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in this here blog i know i hardly ever speak of fashion (save for the occasional flowery shoe or striped bag) but this in particular feels very special.

i met airi when we became studiomates one semester during architecture school. after graduation we & our classmates continued on each of our ways to this firm & that, but in time a good number of us veered off to pursue additional/other realms of creativity: materials, paper, music, & for airi — what seemed so natural for her & made much sense to the rest of us (for her) — fashion.

after much anticipation, i had the opportunity to see airi’s collection launch last month at FIDM’s Debut 2011, the event for which ten graduating students have been chosen to debut their lines. having only previewed bits & pieces along the way, it was amazing to see her body of work presented all at once in a professional setting i had only previously seen in the media. by the time airi’s collection was on the runway (second to last), i had come to appreciate how clearly each detail of her presentation — the music, the lighting & background, her own outfit — was steeped in her voice as designer-airi as well as everyday-airi (if that makes sense), & all of it complemented the collection itself. it was not at all unlike her presentations in architecture school — pure, fresh & sophisticated, well thought out & put together (not thrown). i left the show reminded of how i must be mindful & remain true to my ideas/style/interests, so that whatever i create can hold its own ground & speak clearly for me, too.   

which brings me to her collection, for which she draws from architectural materials to inform her pieces. concrete-dipped bows & coats, plywood collars, metal cables, & painted fabric, each & all in hues, combinations, & witty handiwork that are so very airi.

i look forward to more.

photos courtesy of wrk-shp.

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update 4/21/11

fidm’s debut 2011 is set to air on PBS (that’s channel 15 for those in LA with time warner):

friday, april 22 at 10pm
saturday, april 23 at 7pm
sunday, april 24 at 3pm
tuesday, may 3 at 8pm

miss airi presents second-to-last, but also keep an eye out for the ‘chairing styles’ segment (textile meets chair meets dress), the beautifully feminine line of hannah childs, & a darling children’s line by kamelia stojanikova.