Knitwear, the mere word for many conjures images of crocheting grandmothers and fishermen’s sweaters, or those dreaded ‘scratchy’ childhood sweaters. One man however, has made it his mission to destroy such ill conceived notions of this oldest of fashion’s crafts, and that man is Mark Fast. What Fast does, is transform knitwear into something one would never normally associate with it, he creates pure ‘sex’.Mark Fast’s AW13 collection was showcased in the rooftop atrium of the ME Hotel, and when a designer is ballsy enough to show a collection in an arena that has one of the best views in London to compete with, you just know is has to be good. Entitled ‘Through The Darkness’ the designer, as with many of his peers this season, embraced futurism and also the fae, giving a thoroughly modern approach to his knitwear designs. The silhouette was form fitting bodycon with elements of bondage wear incorporated into his intricate designs through banding and strap details. Feathered fringing gives a floaty, sensual air of etherealism to contrast the severity of figure hugging sheaths; were Queen Mab to emerge from Faerie into today’s world, I have no doubt that she be clad in a look not dissimilar to something like the floor sweeping designs Fast showcased.
Wrap around and off the shoulder capes are complimenting cover ups with Fast’s signature and very sexy hosiery, teamed with Eelko Moorer’s footwear (designed in collaboration with Fast for AW13), the perfect finishing touch.Mark Fast does what may seem impossible; he takes traditional knitwear and turns it into a fresh, urban phenomenon, much of which would not look out of place say, on the female rap and hip hop stars of today.
Photos : LFW