In the Showrooms: Scotch & Soda/Maison Scotch Pre-Fall/Fall 2013 Preview
I see so much apparel, especially during what I like to call preview season, that it is often hard for a brand to stand out in my mind. Ever since Phoebe Philo was outed for sending a coat clearly inspired by Geoffrey Beene down the runway this season, there has been an ongoing debate about the originality of designers. It's true. It is very difficult to be original nowadays. To be fair, as we become more global, true inspiration becomes more fleeting. Therefore, when originality peeks it's head out it is all the more apparent. For this reason it was an absolute pleasure to preview Dutch brand Scotch & Soda's Pre-Fall and Fall 2013 collection.
It was my first time visiting the brand and immediately upon walking into their showroom I was overwhelmed with how much product there was and the range of color and texture in both the men's line and Maison Scotch, the women's line. Globally-influenced, mixed-media was a common design technique and played off both elements well. For example, a leather moto jacket was thick with North African-inspired embroidery on the back and a striped shirt had similar embroidery down the sleeves. A pair of jeans had southwestern style embroidery down the sides that still has me scratching my head wondering how it was done. The best was how these elements were used in unexpected ways. One of my favorite examples of this was the asian-inspired bomber jacket. What an elegant and fun way to dress up a sporty item. I will for sure be making this jacket part of my personal collection this Fall. Another favorite of mine was in menswear. Varsity-style sweatshirts were created using subdued tropical prints. Wow! It's something that can't be described, but must be viewed to fully appreciate it (see below). And speaking of mens, it's no secret that I've been talking about the emergence of color in men's denim, but Scotch & Soda is several seasons ahead of the game and is already producing printed jeans and chinos for men! Guys if you want to know what the future looks like for you, see below.
Overall it was an outstanding collection and perusing the racks was like being in a candy store. I can officially say that Scotch & Soda is one of my new favorite brands. Keep an eye on this space for the full lookbook and visit instagram to see more.
Maison Scotch
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Scotch & Soda
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
