I AND ME
London based duo Jessica and Thomas married in 2015. They founded I AND ME shortly after with the aim of delivering seasonless and contemporary design solutions for both men and women.
TO DIE FOR is the third instalment from I AND ME and sees the brand revisit their three key creative objectives; fabrication, function and form. The collection throws a strong focus on the methods employed in military wear to optimise fabric in the construction of garments. No fixtures or fittings are left to chance, everything has an importance. Themes of militaria are explored throughout the collection; ‘down-time’ fatigues, camouflage, legionnaires and desert storm. The collection will be available online and in-store, mid July.
Most significantly, the collection embraces a study of details, layering. This is reflected in the careful consideration of key fabrics; waxed army green cottons, raw black ecru weft and indigo Japanese selvedge denim and a colour scheme of nude, grey, sand and khaki running through the jersey pieces.
How does the present political climate in the UK affect your work creatively?
We wished to remain in the EU and have suffered under a government squeezing the life out of healthcare, public services and the arts for nearing a decade. Slow fashion is the future and I AND ME will always champion this approach, irrespective of the political climate. Taking responsibility for what we do simply takes on extra significance in times like these.
Jessica, how would you describe your creative process when starting a new collection?
I try to travel as much as I can in search of inspiration. My travels often inspire the fabric choices, colour palettes and silhouettes that form the start of a collection. Researching and further reading helps me build a visual narrative which I develop and embellish until a collection begins to take shape.
You have previous experience from working with denim and do now also run a successful denim consultancy, how has denim influenced your work for I AND ME?
Denim is my background and my passion. It has heavily influenced I AND ME from the very start and remains the backbone of the brand. When I was shaping I AND ME as a concept, I thought a lot about how I dress and shop personally. 99% of the time it defines my outfit. Denim is seasonless and timeless; it’s found in every wardrobe and we aim to create key denim staples for men and women alike.
TO DIE FOR, is inspired by the impermanence of our actions and military, two contrasting subjects, abstract and concrete. How did you first see the connection between these key elements?
A start point was the work of land installation artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The fact their work is temporary but everlasting in the same heartbeat fascinates me. This led me down an existential path, delving into the use of fabrics in landscapes, but also exploring the use of fabric in its most functional form, at its most primary. I was inspired by the practicality of military wear; the fittings, the pockets and trim placements, every element is there for a reason.
Where do you see I AND ME in 10 years from today?
I want to continue developing I AND ME in a responsible way, through a buy less, buy better vision. We will remain seasonless, trendless and genderless and at some stage in the next few years, I believe a huge proportion of the fashion industry will embrace the same vision. Collaboration will remain key to what we do and we hope to spread our vision worldwide.
creative direction JESSICA GEBHART
photography ANNIE LAI
photography assistant CHIUMAN NG
hair & make up SEUNGHEE YOO
set design LAURA LITTLE
male talent JOSHUA AT PREMIER
female talent EMILY AT AMMO
brand assistant MARTE BRAUTER
clothing I AND ME
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