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MINI Fashion Presents 'Field Notes' At Pitti Uomo 94

Translating personal travel stories into fashion designs made specifically from merino wool.

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Liam Hodges (UK)

The designs of Liam Hodges are unapologetic with a rebellious spirit of modern subculture. His use of baggy silhouettes, signature patchwork workwear and DIY touches tell stories of someone who steers clears of the ordinary.

His “field notes” come from the city of New York. “Something I won’t forget is being up on the rooftop of Rockefeller Center during sunset and seeing the Empire State Building. Half of it was bright orange and still in daylight, while the other half had already entered darkness. Quite an amazing thing to experience.” His keepsakes such as tickets, photos, coasters from bars became visual cues for his designs. DIY-esque prints, to the use of denim as a classic Americana emblem and checked overcoats reminiscent of Wall Street.

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PH5 (USA)

From their home base in New York, Mijia Zhang and Wei Lin are the designers and founders of the contemporary knitwear brand PH5. Through computer programming, their intricate patterns and innovative treatment of yarns come to life, and the idea of femininity acquires a different meaning.

Their “field notes” in three words: Miami, happy, summer. The retro liveliness of the Miami Art Deco district with its distinctive pastel-hued buildings gives a bygone era of escapism and sunshine, unparallel in its own way. “We were naturally drawn to these unique architectural forms, particularly looking at how light and dark are captured in their patterns and the juxtaposition between soft tones and hard lines.”

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Rike Feurstein (Germany)

Rike Feurstein’s headpieces are a work of art. Meticulous craftsmanship done by hand, and cutting-edge aesthetics, her hats reveal a painter’s fascination with form and an eagerness for experimentation. In her Berlin atelier is where her sculptures become wearable.

Her “field notes” come from the inside the Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg, a baroque chamber of unapologetic charm seduces even the most ardent minimalism devotee. “This place is captivating. Its endless hues of amber go from light beige to dark scarlet. And they always change depending on how they catch the sunlight. There was a spark between us.” From the city’s aristocratic past, to its Soviet years and lively present.

Staffonly (China)

Based in Shanghai, Staffonly are Shimo Zhou and Une Yea behind the clothing line that combines technology with innovative textiles and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. Through their willingness to break boundaries, they embody the new wave of China’s independent designers.

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Their “field notes” comes right in the heart of London, Greenwich Park, where they used to study. “It’s hard to forget that place, the feeling of being there: the scent of freshly cut grass, the taste of tea and scones – people sharing a peaceful moment with their friends. It’s so refreshing. You want to stay there forever.” The dazzling green grass and the picnic basket were sources of inspiration for their designs this time.

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Think the brand MINI is only all about the Coopers and Jack Unions? Think again. For the past three years, MINI has taken their ideas and beliefs behind the brand name across different platforms, specifically living spaces and fashion design.

MINI Fashion, just like everything else that they tend to create, takes the idea of an urban traveller transcending borders, which really means taking it all in, learning everything that one can experience during one’s travels. And not just going from one place to another – or “doing it for the ‘gram”. This year, MINI Fashion has chosen four innovative and exciting new names in the fashion scene, namely Liam Hodges (UK), Staffonly (China), PH5 (USA) and Rike Feurstein (Germany) to create their capsule collection. As the title for this collection is named Field Notes, each designer have chosen a city as an inspiration for their designs.

In partnership with The Woolmark Company, MINI Fashion showcased their capsule collection once again at Pitti Uomo in Florence – the perfect place that not only gets in on the trends, but for the shared passion of expressing innovation and attention to quality and detail.

The collection will be available online for purchase in limited numbers from this autumn. mini.com

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