The Singular Suit Project
21-07-2009
To pay a tribute to the suit Esquire magazine has given some of the biggest names in fashion liberty to create a bespoke and unique collection. The Singular Suit Project has brought together the creative talents of some of the best designers, tailors and artists in the world and allowed them to showcase their talents and artist vision.
The commissioned eighteen top designs have paired up with an artist of their choice to part take in the unique and daring exhibition. The Designers include an Aquascutum and Antony Gormley creation made entirely from metal plates and lead-filled trousers and a "naked" organza suit by Spencer Tunick and Richard James. Norton & Sons and Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller have drawn inspiration from Winston Churchill by re-creating the prime minister's "Siren Suit"- a trademark suit that Churchill designed for himself during the war, while a suit by Donatella Versace and light artist/designer James Clar has lightsabers bursting from the seams.
The full list of designers and muses collaborating in the Singular Suit project are:
- Richard James with artist Spencer Tunick
- Sir Paul Smith with sculptor Richard Woods
- Christopher Bailey of Burberry with musician George Craig
- John Galliano with photographer Zanna
- Patrick Grant at Norton & Sons with Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller
- Kim Jones at Dunhill with artist Terence Koh
- Graeme Fidler at Aquascutum with Turner Prize-winning sculptor Antony Gormley
- Henry Holland with Scott Campbell (Marc Jacobs' tattooist)
- Dolce & Gabbana with designer/architect/sculptor Ron Arad
- Donatella Versace with light artist/designer James Clar
- Tommy Hilfiger with musician Joey Ramone
- Paul Elbers at Louis Vuitton with artist Christian Schoeler
- Kris Van Assche at Dior with artist Mat Collishaw
- Italo Zucchelli at Calvin Klein with artist Nate Lowman
- Giorgio Armani with theatre designer/artist Robert Wilson
- Bruno Pieters at Hugo Boss and artist Jan De Cock
- Ralph Lauren with Ferrari
- Frida Giannini of Gucci with Mark Ronson
The suits all took tree to six months to produce and have found their way to their final destination in London after being shipped from all over the world. Not all journeys ran smoothly though with some suits being held by customs for weeks, and other needing to be dismantled and reassembled from continent to continent.
They will be exhibited at the Terrace Rooms, Seamen's Hall, Somerset House from 31 July to 31 August. Many of the designers and artists will attend a special launch party at Somerset House on 29 July.
The suits will also appear in a unique portfolio in the special hardback September edition of Esquire magazine, on sale 6 August. For all fashion lovers especially all the dapper men out there, the September issue features more than 60 pages dedicated to the suit.
