It’s difficult to ignore the coastal elements that tie together the spring/summer 2021 collections. Though they're not very apparent across all fashion brands and collections, there were moments throughout the season that stood out because of their seafaring inspirations.
Versace reimagined an underwater world where its inhabitants were fully decked out in all manner of ocean floor-inspired fashion. From scuba diving suits to starfish-shaped embellishments on suiting to vibrant bursts of printed coordinates (of sea creatures, of course), Versace took firm grasp of the theme and ran with it. Elsewhere, Burberry conceptualised a story of a love affair between a shark and a mermaid, reinterpreting design tropes typically seen on and used by fishermen.
When they weren't purposefully inspired by the sea, the spring/summer 2021 collections made heavy use of blues. Hermès's was almost entirely cast in an entirely blue lens, while Dolce&Gabbana was teeming with almost every hue of blue there was in the spectrum.
But the sea took on a whole other meaning during COVID-19. The sea represented hope and a yearning for borders to fully open so that we may once again travel and explore its vastness. The sea seemed to be one of our few escapes away from the confines of one's country, if only for a short distance away. Together with fashion photographer Shawn Paul Tan, style director Asri Jasman sought to capture a selection of spring/summer 2021 pieces in a setting that's hopeful and serene; a short escape from reality.
The sea is calling. We may not be able to answer yet, but soon perhaps.
