Henrik Vibskov put the “show” in fashion show when he unveiled his Spring/Summer 2015 men’s collection, which he calls "The Sticky Brick Fingers".
Vibskov, renowned for converting fashion shows into mesmerising worlds, enthralled his audience once again with a display quite unlike any other seen during Paris Fashion Week 2014.
In collaboration with the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and choreographer Alexander Ekman, the Danish fashion designer transformed his runway into a “wet and wild fantasy stage”.
Vibskov’s runway comprised a 150-square-metre shallow pool filled with 4 000 litres of water. The pool was the stage for ten dancers from the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, splish-splashing their way through a dance sequence created by Ekman, while male models adorned with monk-like headpieces strutted around the performance wearing Vibskov's unique, eye-catching garments and accessories.
For the “Team Vibskov” dancers, Ekman created a special routine that was a wittier, more playful version of his choreography for the recent production of Swan Lake at the Oslo Opera House. The dancers moved with jerky, precise movements to a spare electronic soundtrack.
The collection itself draws inspiration from cement mixtures and construction sites. It is "stirred up by visions of rotating cement mixers, construction sites, bricks, swimming pools and water sports," says Vibskov. Brick motifs feature heavily on garments such as over-sized jerseys, skirts and knee-length shorts. Three-dimensional textures and geometric patterns drawn from blown-up text give the pieces a sense of movement. The styles are typically androgenous and include both flowy skirts and boxy constructed jackets. Strong orange, white and mint stand out amongst more subtle dark blues and curry shades.
The collection is perfectly balanced between eccentric innovations and wearability, says Vibskov.
Welcome to the weird, wonderful – and wearable – world of Vibskov.
