Like an air of Fleetwood Mac... Zimmermann unveils the new collection
How not to remember this viral video posted on TikTok in which its creator, Nathan Apodaca, surfs the asphalt while peacefully sipping cranberry juice, all on one of the most legendary titles of the British group Fleetwood Mac? Symbol of freedom and unfailing optimism, the clip toured the planet, then frozen by the pandemic. Cherry on the cake ? The blues-rock group, embodied by style icon Stevie Nicks, rose to the top of the charts, 50 years after the group was formed.
Recognizable among a thousand with its ultra-feminine silhouettes, solar prints and refined details, the Australian label Zimmermann was inspired, for the Fall 2021 season, by the power of music as a means of expression, sharing and escape. At a time when the whole world is impatient to find concert halls and other international festivals, L'OFFICIEL talks with Nicky Zimmermann, co-founder and artistic director of the brand.
THE OFFICIAL: As a child, how did music influence you?
Nicky Zimmermann: In Australia, when I was growing up there, there wasn't much going on. When a magazine came out in Paris, for example, we received it three months later. I was a very handsome young girl, interested in fashion, and the only interesting thing to me was this music TV show, "Countdown" : it was crazy, chaotic, fun. Molly Meldrum, the show's host, was so charismatic that bands around the world flocked to perform on her set. For me it was a dream to see music and fashion become one, to admire the style of the artists and the way they expressed themselves through clothing.
The collection revolves around an optimism reminiscent of the 70s and 80s - was it a desire on your part to send a message of hope, at a time when the planet is still frozen by the pandemic?
Absolutely. Zimmermann is intrinsically a house that wants to be optimistic and fun, in symbiosis with our Australian origins. The Zimmermann girl is bubbly, she loves color, volumes and prints, and it was even more important in this period to let our DNA express itself. While working on the collection with my team, we realized how positively color can have a positive effect on people. We visually fed on posters, we transformed vintage photos of cassette players and record players into prints, dug into all the symbolism of the scene like the stars ... More than referring to an era, the collection refers to a mood , an atmosphere. And in my opinion, the mood of the moment must be positive!
Do you think you have transcended the Zimmermann codes in order to stick more to the need for freedom, expression and palpable joy while we are still constrained by the pandemic?
That was indeed one of the important points we discussed with the creative team. Every season we want to give people the possibility, whenever they can, to be exuberant because clothing can bring so much joy. All of this is deeply rooted in our values. We also thought about this special relationship that we all have with music: it has this gift of embodying moments of life synonymous with communion and sharing. Fashion and music together can create wonderful memories.
How does music help you and your loved ones get through difficult times, including current health and environmental crises?
I believe that music is a remedy for many things and helps, in part, to get through the complex periods of our life. It can calm you, soothe you, exalt you, make you happy ... It is also a vehicle of memories, and it is precisely this notion that we find in the Fall 2021 collection. A vector of memories, but also a promise of future joys.
Who are (or were) the artists who inspire you as a designer?
My ultimate icon - and I know it sounds expected - is David Bowie. I admire the way he used fashion to express who he was at different points in his career. Fashion has allowed her to express her moods , her multiple identities, and I find that so creative and visionary because looking at her looks today, you realize how much they are still current. At the time, it was totally new and daring.
The silhouettes of the collection are inspired by '70s and' 80s codes while remaining resolutely modern. How did you manage to achieve this balance?
In the history of our label, this collection is undoubtedly the one that most refers to a specific period. Everything depends on the making of the silhouettes: we have worked a lot on the cuts, especially those of the suits to which we have given a more modern fit. We drew a lot of inspiration from the men's wardrobe. I love how masculine codes counterbalance an ultra-feminine dress. At Zimmermann, we attach a lot of importance to details: the embroidery is laser cut, we have worked on depth effects, some dresses have elements entirely hand-embroidered. The collection is in this sense very current because it uses modern manufacturing processes, which makes it very tactile and sensual.
What are your favorite figures and why?
I wanted for a long time to introduce a line of denim, it is now done within this collection. I love look 2 whose shirt is inspired by a poster print. We paired it with cropped flare jeans made up of a high part in shiny vinyl-like PVC, and corduroy bands. I also really like this chocolate dress (look 24) with its pleats on the chest and its star print. Finally, look 37 is also one of my favorites: I love the colors of the print, we played on the proportions and the idea of movement with an XXL all-over print, a maxi-knot tied around the neck surrounded by stars, and transparency effects. In fashion, everyone should be daring - it's so fun!
Discover all the looks of the Fall 2021 "In Concert" collection:
