There were Best of British motifs a-plenty in the latest collection from Sibling, including the mother of pearl strewn flat caps of Pearly Kings and Queens and Sloane Ranger-esque knitted pie crust ruffs in red, white and blue. Before you start worrying that Cozette McCreery and Sid Bryan have come over all Farage, rest assured this show of patriotism did not stand alone. The duo were also inspired by the work of Gaudi, specifically his signature mosaic technique, and by Lee Scratch Perry, the legendary Jamaican music producer who knows a thing or two about putting a unique look together. There was something very London about this mash-up - the simmering together of diverse cultures is all part of life in our great capital.
You know what to expect from a Sibling show. First and foremost is their high-spirited, good-natured brand of anarchy. The duo has a skill in creating show pieces - oversize, camp, loud - and these were present and correct. But ignore the muscle-bound model in the spotted knitted harness for a minute (or at least try) and take note instead of really great graphic stripe sweaters and hoodies. Or ruffled twinsets and dresses for women in royal blue and regal red.
Abstracted leopard tails and tiger stripes were refracted through a Gaudi lens, and turned into recurring print motifs on jacquard tailoring, sequined knitwear and sporty bombers and joggers. Top to toe printed tailoring for men and women were a hard sell, but easy pieces like a loosened up skirt shape and crochet diamond sweaters are sure to be successful. The pair enlisted Judy Blame in the styling of the show, and his punkish hand was evident in the use of badges, bows and bricolage, as well as those flat caps.
This was the second time Sibling showed men’s and womenswear of the same season together (rather than an extra pre-collection for the girls) which meant the intent behind it felt more powerful, more focused. And it was one of the more successful attempts we’ve seen - cooperation rather than compromise.
