'A new dawn for ART SCHOOL': Eden Loweth presents his vision for AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

ART SCHOOL – AUTUMN / WINTER 2021

ASCENSION

THE POWER OF HOPE.

Over the past four and a half years, ART SCHOOL has carved out a central role in representation, diversity and inclusion. Changing the goal posts, the markers of how real people, real voices can be represented in this industry.

Autumn / Winter 2021, entitled Ascension, marks a new dawn for ART SCHOOL, and indeed for myself as its creative director, my first full season alone. Ascension is a dystopian new view of the ART SCHOOL community, our place in the world and the relationships we form in trying times. It’s this last point I want to begin with.

Over the past six months I have built an extraordinary team whom together we have created this collection with the basic starting point of doing things the right way, with strong and powerful foundations. A phenomenal cast, our most diverse to date, constructed by Lucia Blayke and Emily Crooked of London Trans Pride steps out from a cloud of lightning, these figures of strength emerging from darkness. A new logo and monogram, hand drawn by Ahonen & Lamberg sets in stone ART SCHOOL’s new beginning and forms the start of a new partnership with Anna and Katariina as my art directors, friends and mentors. Blonstein step forward as my producers, translating the narratives laid out here into a powerhouse of a show held at the historic Truman Brewery, the site of my first show for ART SCHOOL, four and a half years earlier. Cozette McCreery mentors, guides and cares for me as ART SCHOOL grows, I trust and respect her beyond words. Finally, and most importantly, I have the support, guidance and friendship of my first studio manager, Elly Beckford who has become my right hand woman who I’d be lost without.

The overarching point to all of these new and evolving relationships is the idea of collectively coming together for one message. Together is how we grow and together we are stronger than alone.

Make no mistake. Today our community faces some of the hardest social and political issues we’ve ever had to face. Now more than ever, we can only survive if we are united. I have always believed that real change can only happen from the inside out. There’s no point banging on a locked door in the hope it will open. It won’t. As I worked on this collection, I came to understand truly how lucky I am to be in this position and the platform I have to make real change.

It’s no longer a choice whether to speak up as a member of a marginalised community in a position like mine. It is a duty and it is imperative. Each one of us who has a voice (you know who you are) must use them. We must strive to make not just our industry, but also our society, a better, safer, more conscious reality.

Ascension explores this narrative whilst also being representative of the corner stones of community. Love, for one another and for your self and unity, in times of darkness. Every model representing ART SCHOOL this season defines these corner stones, they have supported, guided and educated me and now they are here to do the same for you. 

There’s one more person I want to speak about in relation to this show. On Saturday 30th January 2021 our community lost one of its shining stars. The passing of someone so important to so many can leave such a hole in so many people’s lives it can be hard to comprehend. SOPHIE was a beacon of hope, a light like no other who leaves behind a generation defining, culturally iconic legacy and body of work. We owe her so much, she has shaped many of our lives and we morn together as a community in memory of her.

Personally, she laid the foundations for people like me to do what I love. She was an inspiration, and a guiding light. It will take a long time for us to process her loss but her light and beauty will shine bright over us all forever. 

“Do you believe in god? 

Yes, God is Trans”

ART SCHOOL Autumn / Winter 2021 is dedicated to SOPHIE.

Ascension is designed to act as more than a collection of clothes. It is a message of hope. No matter how hard the challenges our community may face, we will emerge from the darkness. Together we will rise.

My whole heart is in this for you.

Follow ART SCHOOL on Instagram