Tee Total Totem

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I don't know a great deal about Native American totem poles other than I made a really poor paper mache version of one that was supposed to represent my personality when I was 10 (I think a Keroppi frog, my interpretation of a meerkat and a pair of peregrine falcon wings were somewhere in my botched-up pole…) …. I do know that Australian designer Tina Kalivas has taken 'Totem' as the main theme of her latest A/W 10-11 collection and taken elements of the totem pole object and injected them quite subtly and cleverly into the pieces. 

Now, this is all a bit confuzzling for me… so I gather Kalivas is now presenting her collections in accordance with the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere so this is her A/W 10-11 collection proper… it is also the one which will be presented at the coming Rosemount Australian Fashion Week which makes me feel like something of a spoilsport but in reality, this collection has been out for a month or so for sales purposes already.  On a RAFW note, some of you may know that I will be heading down to Sydney for RAFW in the beginning of May which will also incidentally be my first time to Australia (not counting the 3 hr stopover…).  It may take me a while to adjust to seasons, time difference, fashion week atmosphere difference and err… well Sydney itself… but I'm raring to go.  This needs further expansion closer to the time.  It goes without saying that I'm of course eggcited about seeing pleeeeeenty of shows and showrooms, Kalivas included.

I've had misgivings in the past about 'exoticism' in fashion.  That said, it's clear Kalivas is a citizen of the world, a true traveller that manages to mine the specifics of other-worldly cultures and far-away lands in order to extract the apt components for her collections which somehow never comes out looking overly-costume-like.  

For this collection, Kalivas has once again collaborated with Jonathan Zawanda of Fashematics fame to create a fractal/outer space primary coloured print which has been injected along with colour blocking and embroidered Native American patterns that work as guiding graphic lines that structure the body in different ways, be it zig-zagging across a skirt, running down arms/shoulders or down the legs.  When I saw it in the showroom, what also struck me were the fabric contrasts where mesh and black PVC mingle with wools and silks. 

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29 comments

  2. Well as an Aussie, love Tina Kalivas’ collection 🙂
    See you at RAFW and also (hopefully) at the bloggers meetup I’m organising with Nuffnang Australia xx

  5. wow, that’s just really amazing. I especially like the last dress. Her inspiration is really refreshing!
    xoxo

  6. She’s done it really elegantly and kept it very modern. It’s so easy to take this kind of reference into tacky territory, but she’s pulled it off beautifully.

  8. I love her designs. Her Zarafshan collection is one of my favourite collection to come out of Australia. I’m pretty sure she worked with Afghani immigrants on that collection. She doesn’t disrespectfully use historically sacred ideas, symbols and motifs. I feel her work is a tribute to the cultures represented in her work, rather than trying to rip off the ideas. Her pieces are magnificent!

  11. I have fallen in love again. That is one of my favourite collections ever!!!! I think it’s because she has not limited herself with the usual A/W palette, but has used her own inspiration and ideas! And despite tribal influences, she has not simply copied, but expanded and enhanced!!
    Do you mind if I blog about this?
    http://toruu-tania.blogspot.com/

  15. nice shot…style bubble always ahead from other designers..
    love you suzie for keeping the true fashion in the right way!!
    kudos to suzie!

  18. Here in America it’s not really so far away. My boyfriend is Mohawk. 🙂 Anyway I love these! I go nuts for multicolor on black every time. That triangle print is glorious

  19. I LOVE this exotic/tribal look (call it what you will). Those dresses, skirts and pants are glorious and I’d sure wear them 🙂

  21. I’ve previously had reservations about the way Tina Kalivas blends ethnic motifs/patterns with her trademark sharp lines but this collection is really working for me.
    Hope you have a great time in Sydney – maybe I’ll bump into you on the street.

  23. i love it when Australian designers are picked up overseas. But of course being from Melbourne, i’m not bias…!

  25. Melbourne fashion week is much better than Sydney’s!!
    hopefully you can come back for it some time Susie 🙂

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  28. so glad you are coming to Sydney; the weather here is golden right now, the perfect time to come,not too hot or cold, it’s our Indian Summer period. Hope you have the best time!

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