Tajinder HayerIf there are two things that the English gent needs to have with him at all times, they are surely an overcoat and an umbrella, as we all know the weather can be pretty unpredictable. Whilst the overcoat comes in a variety of forms and is constantly being evolved in new and interesting ways, the same cannot be said for the umbrella. Thankfully, renowned jeweller Tateossian is changing things.
A long-standing relationship with the London College of Fashion sees artists Piers Atkinson, Little Shilpa and Kelesi Anim create one of a kind artwork with a silver Tateossian umbrella as the canvas. A truly unique coming together of fashion and art, the pieces are currently being exhibited in the three London stores (Conduit Street, Westfield and The Royal Exchange just in case you didn’t know).
Plus, they will all be part of the London College of Fashion annual showcase Fashion Matters auction on 10th October at The Savoy which will see 300 designers, entrepreneurs and fashion leaders coming together to support young British fashion and design talent.
Turning back to the umbrellas, they are all works of art in their own right. Kelesi Anim opted for decorating each panel of the umbrella with contrasting print and blocks of colour, while Shipla has used lace and feathers to really make the humble umbrella into a statement. Choosing a change of tact altogether, Piers Atkinson chose to decorate his work with a glass orb, creating the most men’s appropriate piece of the three in our opinion.
We at MFM think that it is great to see a respected British brand like Tateossian, who are famous for their uniquely designed jewellery that is contemporary and trend led, supporting British design talent and helping to give new artists a helping hand. Bid for the commissioned umbrellas at http://www.arts.ac.uk/fashion/about/fashion-matters/.