Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2014
One of the most illustrious British brands with a pedigree harking back to 1856, the House of Burberry is a truly dynamic force in the field of modern fashion design. With its pioneering ethos, the label has firmly made its mark on the menswear industry, fusing a legacy of iconic heritage with fresh and revolutionary ideas.
In this special collaborative piece, we examine the components of the AW14 show revealed on the final day of London Collections: MEN, offering true, never-before-seen insight into the design DNA of the collection.
The Anatomy Of A Burberry Show
The most anticipated highlight of the LC:M event, the AW14 Burberry Prorsum collection was a romantic homage to British craftwork and iconography.
Entitled ‘A Painterly Journey, Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey drew inspiration from the stories and travels of iconic 20th-century artists Ben Nicholson, Lucien Freud, Christopher Wood, and Duncan Grant, with a strong focus on individualism and hand-crafted details.
Staged in a purpose-built runway stage in London’s Kensington Gardens, attendees including Jamie Campbell Bower, David Gandy, Tinie Tempah, Paloma Faith, Nick Grimshaw, and Dermot O’Leary were greeted on arrival by the strains of acoustic musician Sivu:
FashionBeans x Burberry: Backstage
In celebration of the great British brand, FashionBeans was invited to be one of only a handful of exclusive presences backstage at the show.
The partnership pulled on the best creative talents on either side. While Christopher Bailey readied models for the runway, FashionBeans was joined by acclaimed street style photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce and award-winning filmmaker Olan Collardy.
Under the direction of FashionBeans Editor Luke Todd, the trio set about capturing the essence of Burberry in an access all areas alliance between two of the leading names in men’s style.
Daniel-Pryce, himself a published photographer and creator of the 100 Beards book, was tasked with cataloging every aspect from the models to the collection and the front row…
Getting Prepared
FashionBeans was by the side of international make-up artist and Burberry consultant, Wendy Rowe. Having already worked on the brand’s SS14 campaign, Rowe used her experience working among the world’s most renowned photographers and designers to prepare models for the runway.
She was joined by Matt Mulhall, who was pulled in by Burberry to bring a gentlemanly vibe to the hair department. Mulhall has previously worked with the likes of Hermés, Mr. Porter, and Paul Smith:
Finishing Touches
Prior to the start of the show at 2 pm GMT, models were ushered into the dressing area behind the stage.
It was here that walkers were styled to perfection under the watchful eye of Christopher Bailey and the brand’s stylist team. Models from across the world were also introduced to the knitwear and scarves Burberry opted to send down the runway for the first time:
The Collection
An Interview With Christopher Bailey
As part of the collaboration between FashionBeans and Burberry, our team were offered rare one-on-one access to Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer, Christopher Bailey MBE.
The man credited with the move back from Milan Fashion Week has been celebrated by royalty – both fashion and actual – for his work at the brand.
FashionBeans Editor Luke Todd caught up with the man behind the global fashion machine to talk inspiration, keeping the collection current, and the return back home to London.
Independent cinematographer Olan Collardy was present to capture Bailey’s responses fresh from his final bow at the end of the show. Collardy is the winner of an international ‘Outstanding Director’ award and founder of Cardy Films:
Luke Todd, FashionBeans Editor, Interviewing Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey Backstage At LC:M
Burberry Prorsum AW14 Showcase
Continuing its collaborative efforts with leading artists, Burberry teamed up with musicians Paloma Faith, Patrick Wolf, and Claire Maguire for the show’s soundtrack, reaffirming the brand’s strong relationship with the music industry.
With the eager crowd of fashion creatives assembled on the tiered seats at the East Albert Lawns, the show opened to the sound of Claire Maguire’s ‘Lilac Wine’, which was recorded especially for the spectacle.
For those that missed it, you can watch the Burberry Prorsum AW14 runway showcase below before clicking here for part two, where we take an in-depth look at the key influences and pieces from the collection:
Credits
Official runway images and footage courtesy of Burberry. Backstage and event photography: Jonathan Daniel Pryce. Video footage: Olan Collardy. Video production: Bullfrog Digital. Interview with Christopher Bailey: Luke Todd, Editor, FashionBeans.