Introducing ERDEM Vacation
Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh takes a trip with the new collection from the mind and fingers of Erdem Moralioglu
As the world returns to the normalcy of collective jet-setting and beach escapes, London-based design house ERDEM introduces a midseason Vacation collection filled with flow and structure alongside nods to the brand’s classic floral prints. The Vacation collection offers what ERDEM describes as a consciously “romantic and optimistic” series. Every inch of fabric throughout is imbued with the possibility of leisurely exploration. With its sights set on the joyous reemergence of the (real) Summer holidays, ERDEM’s Vacation is a welcome return to finer wear following the pandemic’s dominant years of athleisure. “[We are] inspired by nature and the desire to explore and travel,” wrote the brand of their vision, “the pieces have a vibrant ease.”
With such expeditions in mind, Erdem the designer (preferably known by the eponymous mononym) cast his eye over his print archives for the new offering. The intricately daring AW09 collection drew rave reviews and comparisons to Christian Lacroix and solidified Erdem’s unique digital command of delicate floral prints. This history of iconic printwork has been reimagined and relaxed throughout the Vacation collection in a series of masculine and feminine forms – from floating oversized tiered dresses and tie-strap babydolls, to smartly tailored co-ords, bucket hats, and previously unexplored silhouettes.
The collection showcases Erdem’s first steps into swimwear, with bold one-piece swimsuits and print-matched bikinis moving effortlessly into co-ordinated wide-legged trousers and form-fitting floor-length skirts. A sense of freedom and movement builds from piece to piece. The collection as a whole prepares the wearer for the endless possibilities of a new terrain; effortlessly dressing the momentary shifts from bathing and lounging to lunching and exploring.
The look book, shot through the dreamlike lens of New-York-based photographer Parker Woods, offers an escape for ERDEM’s designs to flourish in lesser-spotted scenes of the Los Angeles beachside. Classic pinstripe pyjama suits, Ikat motifs, and rust-toned florals immediately capture the eye amidst a remote and muted backdrop evocative of antiquated English resorts. The aesthetic is timeless and ethereal; at once Call Me by Your Name and Dust & Heat. Woods’ analogue-focused creative process follows the contrasts of the collection – floating from linen and poplin to heavy cotton headwear and woven straw basket bags recalling Erdem’s favoured Merchant Ivory Films.
The ERDEM Vacation Collection points firmly to a brighter future, with nostalgic nods to the brand’s history acknowledging a hope for the triumphant resurgence of Summer travelling.
For more on the ERDEM Vacation collection click here