When Bloke released it’s SS20 collection seven months ago, we were exposed to the brand’s active portrayal of “Family” through it’s pieces.
While we await the self-proclaimed genderless artisanal label’s next lookbook, we take a look at its previous lookbook “Family Portrait”, its subtle message of love, bonding and protection of one’s family – a message that resonates deeply with these volatile times.
For the July – Sept. 2020 issue of MC! Magazine, we spoke to Creative Director, Faith Oluwajimi on Bloke’s SS20 collection and its message on the family.
This collection is an inquisitive look into what family means to me and the seemingly unsuspected effects of the concept of family on individuals in the society in contemporary times using my family as a scope of reference.
Creative Director Faith Oluwajimi.
The brand’s message on the concept of family and it’s importance reflects urgent relevancy at this sensitive time more than ever.
Family is everything […]And, there is no better time to look after Family than now more than ever...”
Faith Oluwajimi
On the inspiration behind these pieces, Oluwajimi says,
… drawing inspiration from photographs of Sedjou Keita in the 70’s, and recent paintings of Joy Labinjo which both focus on the theme of family through and African gaze.
See Bloke’s SS20 Collection Inspired by Sedjou Keita
He continues,
Using the family tree diagram, and family anagram as a print on garments to depict the interwoven intricacies of the concept of family and a homage to the respect of ancestors in the African culture.
On the aesthetics of the pieces, Oluwajimi explains that “The colour palette utilised the complete spectrum of colours, to show the diversity and complexities in a family regardless of the unifying bond and similarities they might share as a family”.
The Nigerian knitwear label’s creative director continues to take us into the intricacies of his creative process.
“…diffusing the idea [of Family] through an artisanal approach; for fabrication, the use of fabrics with different textures such as cotton, linen, lace, satin, for the tailored garments with an interesting blend of yarns which includes rayon, metallic, cotton, and polyester for the knitted offerings”.
As an artisanal label, Bloke employed techniques such as knitting, hand dying, applique, hand stitching, silkscreening and patchwork for the creation of the garments in this collection which points in the direction of accentuating the differences and the unifying similarities which bond a family.
