INTERVIEWS/

Born and raised in Sheffield, Gemma Slack had an innate sense for art and moved to London to cultivate her creativity. She enrolled at the Chelsea College of Art & Design in Fine Arts and was encouraged to try fashion design. Enjoying the process of translating her sculptures and paintings into garments, Slack decided to change direction. Trading paintbrushes for sewing kits, she entered the Fashion Design Technology Womenswear course at London College of Fashion.
The designs for A/W09 are based on beasts and Nosferatu; the collection has evolved into achingly-sleek tailored garments for a strong, striking, sexual woman. Slack adopts a simple yet structured silhouette, casting delicious dark shadows with varying shades of black and dense textual fabrics. Merino wool is morphed with tulle, leather with metal washers and mohair with human hair into blazers with strong shoulders
For A/W09 inspiration came from religious crusades, medieval armor techniques manifest in engraved gorgets and epaulettes accessories. Studded hand molded vertebrae scales leather dresses, trimmed trousers and cropped jackets. Looking towards pre-industrial Japan, longhair velvet motorcycle jackets, stuffed with Hungarian goose down, takes on shapes and silhouettes of the Samurai.