Vivienne Tam chose one of my favorite presentation styles to showcase her Fall 2009 collection. Models were perched on blocks where viewers could approach each piece to fully appreciate all the details and take everything in. It was especially nice since there was so much concept behind the collection. It was inspired by the concept of nothingness and the Asian philosophy of creating an empty space that gives way to something new and unexpected.
"When I saw this character of nothingness written by master calligrapher Dong Yangzi, I was moved not only by the artistry, but also by the profundity of the concept," Tam said in the show notes. "During this period of global economic turmoil, the idea of the return to a state of emptiness and simplicity from which to renew our lives seemed particularly timely."
The Chinese character for nothingness was used throughout the line in different motifs, materials, prints, shapes and sizes. For Fall 09 Tam layered tougher materials like tweed, herringbone and melton with more delicate satins and charmeuses and ribbons, chiffon cutouts, appliques and quilting.
Tam was also at the cutting edge of embracing technology and new media to promote her line, not only embracing nontraditional media like us bloggers but even providing blogging stations at the presentation. More on that later!
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