JW Anderson – SPRING 2021 READY-TO-WEAR
The sequel to the JW Anderson show-in-a-box that he delivered for his pre-collection back in early July winged its way to our doors wrapped in paper printed with the opening scene of *The Importance of Being Earnest,*a hilariously witty text for all of us who are intent on unpacking the meaning of fashion in these serious times. Anderson says he’s been drawing inspiration from none other than his great Irish compatriot Oscar Wilde: “During the pandemic, I’ve been looking at how news is spun by one-liners. Thinking about people in history who did that—well, obviously Oscar Wilde was one of the greatest with the one-liner.” What kick-started Anderson was discovering this Wilde aphorism: “The secret of life is in art.” “It spoke to me as a text [and] literary landscape for the collection—not inspired by Oscar Wilde himself, but the idea of him as an outrageous figure in his period. What would he be today?”
JW Anderson is a British fashion label, founded in 2008 by Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson. The brand initially focused on menswear, before moving into womenswear in 2010. Its unique design aesthetic offers a modern interpretation of masculinity and femininity by creating thought-provoking silhouettes through a conscious cross-pollination of menswear and womenswear elements.
JW Anderson has evolved into an internationally renowned and award-winning brand. In the
past accolades have included British Fashion Awards for ‘Emerging Talent, Ready-to-Wear’ (2012), ‘The New Establishment Award’ (2013) and ‘Menswear Designer of the Year’ (2014). At the 2015 British Fashion Awards the brand received an historic double award for ‘Menswear’ and ‘Womenswear Designer of the Year’, the first time any brand has ever won both prestigious awards.
