SUMMARUM
Happiness is described as a state we should aim for to reach a feeling of
wholeness. It is supposedly the ultimate cure against hardship and,
therefore, inextricably crucial to humanity. Joy is one of life's milestones that
determine our lived experience. It goes that as long as we are happy, we can
reach our goals in life. As SUMMARUM is our anniversary collection and we
receive our happy birthday biddings, Mark Baigent wants to analyse the
concept of happiness and joy and translate these intrinsic wishes and
longings into design. This collection seeks to explore the relationship
between joy and happiness through how we use clothing and sets it into
dialogue with philosophy, textiles, patterns, and high-end tailoring
techniques to determine how personal experiences contribute to identity
formation.
Our tenth collection seeks to initiate a profound dialogue between the
concept of happiness and the evocative power of joy as its catalyst. At its
core, the collection probes how textiles, textures, colours, and design
become vessels for emotional resonance and ignite personal growth.
Anchored in black and darker shades—a signature of the brand's identity—
black is envisioned not merely as a colour but as a blank canvas. In this
universal numb anatomy, all humans are represented. As a "non-colour,"
black transcends individual differences and, as neutral ground, invites every
wearer to inhabit the garments in their own way.
Central to this exploration are the hand-made batik prints in volcanic red
tones and the metallic golden sheen of silk, which symbolise moments of joy
that spark creativity and individuality. These vivid hues and shimmering
accents inspire combinations and layering, mirroring the process of shaping
our identities through experimenting with clothing to unlock more profound
happiness.
SUMMARUM encourages the exploration and interplay between materials
like silk, viscose, cotton, and linen. Each fabric embodies a facet of this
emotional journey: silk represents gender fluidity and grace, viscose reflects
social adaptability, cotton grounds the collection with simplicity and comfort,
and linen evokes durability, strength, and timelessness. Together, these
materials create a tactile narrative of harmony, inviting wearers to connect
with the garments on both a sensory and symbolic level. The intentionally
contrasting textures are thoughtfully curated to evoke a narrative reflecting
humanity's richness and diversity. Mark Baigent sees fashion as a tool for
change: by embracing this understanding, we can achieve acceptance and
balance, embrace gender fluidity, and encourage individuality, creating a
foundation for greater societal happiness.
