Minimalism is the New Black

“Minimalism is not defined by what is not there but by the rightness of what is and the richness with which this is experienced.” - John Pawson

Quiet but powerful, minimalism in fashion emerged in 1968, its ideas ‘less is more’ has been applied in every branch of creative art, from painting to sculpture, textile to fashion, architecture and land art. Minimalism has been a constant source of inspiration for artists and designers. (Walker)

I take minimalist fashion as a means of expressing the contemporary mindset. When I hear the phrase “minimalist fashion,” a few things come to my mind. It can be those wispy, neutral-filled wardrobes are one aspect of minimalist fashion, specifically minimalist fashion as an aesthetic or it can be a general feeling or vibe.

Matthew Ames

Matthew Ames is an American fashion designer, graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. With a minimal aesthetic much comparable to Christophe Lemaire, Ames started his brand in 2005 in New York.

For spring 2013, Matthew Ames came back to the fashion scene with a collaboration with Weekday simply called Prairie.

This collection is a minimal approach in a fashion keeping in mind the contemporary aspect, the theme is called the denim capsule Pieces are paired-back, minimal, and premium and sit perfectly in-line with the concept of minimal fashion.

Erin Flett

Erin Flett is a textile designer hand-printing her hand-drawn designs on pillows, bags, tabletop goods, and most recently wallpaper. She is also working with the trade and has designed custom textiles and designs for a variety of Hotels. She is one of the only lifestyle companies manufacturing her line of textiles from start to finish. She believes in locally made craftsmanship and quality and is passionate about the process of making and designing things that bring joy to your everyday.

Erin is anything but minimalist. Her edgy and joyful designs combine the “traditional” with the “modern,” breathing new life into the world of textiles.

Her fall/ winter 2019 collection is a transition of upholstery weight woven linen with a woodsy rich earthy palate with our signature pops of color in BERRY, GOLD, and TOMATO. We added CHOCOLATE BROWN, EVERGREEN, SIENNA, and WORN BLACK and all-time favorite NAVY.

Her approach is using the same print in different areas of textile products. It can be anything ranging from kitchen upholstery to bedding. “Local” is important to Erin. All of her printing is done by hand in Maine, while Mills in North Carolina weaves her custom bark cloth and canvas. All of her velvet and linen are sourced domestically. Even her zippers and inserts are sourced locally. With her attention on designing, manufacturing, and selling, Erin can oversee the entire process, ensuring quality and craft in each product.

Nike Schroeder

Nike Schroeder was born in Hamburg, Germany. She studied BA, Art Therapy/Fine Arts at the University of Applied Sciences in Ottersberg, Germany. Contemporary textile artist Nike Schroeder’s embroidery is beautiful and works very well with texture.

Her latest works dangle excess thread off the canvas, emulating the image dripping paint. This contrasts the work she makes with similar concepts in contemporary painting, highlighting the differences between each medium. Some of her works show characteristics of color-field painting, with the “dripping” threads moving seamlessly from one color to another. These are primarily from her 2013 series “Transition,” as well as “Convex/Concave,” which showed thread pouring off of a triangular section of wood, so that the piece appeared as a waterfall, further highlighting the use of thread as a substitute for water.

This collection beautifully represents the concept of minimalism as the only material she used is rayon threads. It’s contemporary in a way that her works tends to focus on young individual from her daily life. The result that is achieved is impactful.

A minimal approach to fashion, as opposed to a minimal aesthetic for fashion, is more about the attitude and thought process behind things than it is about your color palette (or lack thereof) or the specific number of items in your closet.

Minimalism is the opposite of time-consuming, it’s simple and frill-free. It represents every busy person’s dream scenario, which is why so many people are embracing minimalism, not only in fashion but as a way of life.

1. http://www.erinflett.com/
2. http://www.nikeschroeder.com/2014
3. ·Book: Less is More: Minimalism in Fashion by Harriet Walker (Author)