This week on the AnOther Loves stream everyone has been getting nostalgic and thinking back to childhood days spent colouring in, as the Most Loved product of the week was Stella McCartney Visual Director Jonathan Schofield’s Vintage Crayons.
This week on the AnOther Loves stream everyone has been getting nostalgic and thinking back to childhood days spent colouring in, as the Most Loved product of the week was Stella McCartney Visual Director Jonathan Schofield’s Vintage Crayons. Often sources of inspiration for numerous designers, childhood pastimes and motifs have been employed throughout some of the top fashion collections and shows for years. In fact, Stella McCartney has in past seasons sent out fashion invitations in the form of a light up yo-yo, a Little Miss Stella book imitating the Roger Hargreaves Mr Men characters, a mini music box and a little piece of metal with plastic letter fridge magnets spelling out 'Stella'.
More recently for A/W11, Jean Charles de Castelbajac and Topshop Unique have taken inspiration from children’s cartoons: both emblazoned designs of the 101 Dalmations across garments, with Unique going so far as to style models with black noses and two high buns as if ears. Jean Charles de Castelbajac has over the last four seasons also included designs of The Little Prince, Felix The Cat, Mickey Mouse, Bambi and The Muppets in his collections. Another designer renowned for featuring an element of naivety in her shows is Vivienne Westwood – her S/S’07 catwalk presentation ran against a backdrop of childish scribbles and scrawlings, in A/W10 models were dressed up as Prince Charmings and for S/S11 and A/W11 models were seen sporting smearings and splashings of colourful face paint.
Here we take time out with Schofield to talk about crayons, colour and childhood.
Why did you decide to Love these Vintage Crayons?
I chose them as I thought they were beautiful and evocative. I like the immediacy, smell and solid colour block hit of a good crayon. These ones looked good.
Where did you find them?
I found them on a blog. I can't remember which one now, I have frenzied search periods and get into a kind of trance. Screen grabbing is addictive.
Do you ever draw – if so what with and what of?
I used to draw and paint all the time. I think the job of any artist is to be a type of translator of an idea/feeling/sensation that seems to exist within one, but is as yet un-spoken. Now I find other ways to scratch that particular itch.
Crayons are symbolic of the childhood pastime of colouring in – are there any other products from when you were younger you wish to revive?
I would like a set of original Mr Men Drawings by Roger Hargreaves.
Numerous designers used childhood references in their collections and shows – which have been your favourites and why?
I love any designer that uses colour in a beautiful and distinctive way. Children have no prejudice about colour and are not yet polluted by the notion of good taste and which colours should sit with which. I therefore admire designers who use colour in this way. Colour is anarchic.
When you were younger did you have any dream products you wished to own – ones that you remember putting on your Santa or Birthday present list?
When I was younger I wanted a proper, professional microscope – I was obsessed.
What was the last thing you bought?
The last thing I bought was a pair of bright "Yves Klein blue" pair of New Balance trainers.
What is your favourite online shop?
My favourite online shop is AbeBooks.
Text by Lucia Davies
