For this season's collection, enigmatically entitled 'Exodus', designers Sachiko Okada and Aaron Sharif saw only in black and white. Blaak sought divine inspiration. While other designers aren’t seeing in black and white per se, many severely limit their palettes generally to two colors when designing their collections, which helps in giving lines an overall sense of continuity that’s much more difficult to achieve otherwise. Black will always be the de facto color for a serious fashion designer, but lately white has taken back seat to beige and taupe, the minimalist not-so-stark and muted cousins to black’s former partner. Every collection of this British brand bears an individual character and so was the case this time. Glancing into the past, Sachido Okada and Aaron Sharif presented a new approach to the clothes. The show at the Maison des Métallos in Paris with a religious background and music by Jesus Oskar Vizan didn’t leave anyone indifferent. Cross-shaped accessories, white loose shirts, shortened pants and shorts created an image of a strong-willed and free person. A stunning appearance of one model with a wreath of silver thorns on his head like a new and brave man, who is not a creation of God. Blaak still remains loyal to its grim aesthetics. But this time the collection is diluted yellow-blue-red squares, which proved to be a very original approach. Light negligence and rather ragged style contributed into the collection : sheepskin jackets tailored in a way that they look as if they were torn and then sewed back, knitted scarves thoroughly riddled. Shortened trousers fastened with straps on the shin, elongated shorts in squares and patch pockets create an urban style. Scarves decorated with black beads, necklaces, bags over the shoulders, backpacks have become integral accessories. The London duo focused on the general meaning of Exodus, which is a mass migration, and for the context of the runway show, travel. Travel cloaks, slouchy pants and walking shorts, Blaak brought their audience back in time when life was slower, that it can take a day to trek to the next town or city because traveler had to walk or ride a horse, at times took a canoe. Hence there were creases and patterns that came from the effects of a long journey. And as a travel companion, Blaak introduced a new line of bags that was designed in collaboration with Headporter, a respected Japanese bag company established in 1935. Last but not least, what Blaak do best are shirts and a series of simple white versions shone from the catwalk. Simple but divine.
