Brazilian fashion designer Alexandre Herchcovitch, whose eponymous main line of women’s ready-to-wear has been one of the highlights of São Paulo Fashion Week’s official calendar for years, unveiled the Spring/Summer 2014 collection for his diffusion line Herchcovitch during the most recent edition of Fashion Rio. Aimed at younger male and female consumers who appreciate creative design and good-quality clothes at a more economical price point, the collection was inspired by the clothes worn by coal miners, oil and field workers, and portraits of the inhabitants of the American Wild West taken by photographer Richard Avedon during the 1970s and 1980s.
As expected of Alexandre Herchcovitch, undoubtedly one of the most talented fashion designers currently working in Brazil, the collection’s garments stood out for their impeccable tailoring, virtually flawless stitching and attention to detail. However, if for his main line Herchcovitch normally opts for luxurious fabrics, for this label he chose to juxtapose rougher materials such as mixed leather and coated denim against more delicate organza, tricoline and silk chiffon, which on occasion were printed with delicate florals.
Denim was the predominant fabric, providing a youthful connotation to the collection in pieces as diverse as dresses, overalls, trousers and tops, in dark blue denim or in reinterpreted tie dye or stone-washed patterns. In addition to shades of blue, the colour palette also comprised brown, black, white and lemon yellow, whereas details such as patch pockets, metal buttons and a general absence of collars evoked the utilitarian inspiration to the collection (and Herchcovitch’s own approach to fashion) while remaining highly elegant. In addition, bags came in different sizes and shapes, from the ones inspired by lunch or tool boxes to larger leather totes to extra-large travel bags.
