Vera Thordardottir, a student at Istituto Marangoni, was recently awarded a Special Mention at this year’s FAD (Fashion Awareness Direct) competition during London Fashion Week. Her winning mini collection, Boreal, delves into her personal memories of snow which are referenced into her crystalline garments.
Recently, Vera graciously offered to give us a peak into her works and design process:
What is the title, and concept behind your most recent collection?
I named my collection Boreal which means “Of the northern wind.” My collection was inspired by frost and snow. I’m from Iceland so I had lots of inspiring memories of life in snow to work with. My family also lost our family house in an avalanche when I was a child so snow has played a big part in my life.
What are your inspirations for the collection/ how did you begin the design process?
I started working with different kinds of textiles from sandy paint, to rusting, to silicon. I really enjoyed working with the silicon and decided to develop it further and mixed it with Swarovski crystal and wires to get structural, icy texture. I also melted Tvyek to get decomposing effect that references melting snow.
What kinds of materials and main techniques used for the collection?
The collection focuses on mixture of soft textiles and stiff structures, referencing the melting of snow. I used heat to manipulate most of the textiles besides the silicon and the silk.
What are the most important things you have learned from your teachers and mentors?
My teachers at Istituto Marangoni pushed us to make our own fabric manipulations and textiles which I find very inspiring and a great way to bring something new into a collection. They also have very high standard on good finishing of a garment and push us to adapt that standard to our work.
Who are your favorite designers?
I have always admired Viktor and Rolf’s work. It is very honest and their creativity is mind-blowing.
Photography ©: Tony Wellington
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Congratulation,
Very imaginative and fresh collection. Experimental, with reference to your own background, models which are female human beings, not anorexic match sticks. Great. Next time you show in London I hope Leo and I (friends of your mother) will be invited
Greetings Judith
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