We Are Islanders: Tidal Collection 2013

As you all probably know by now, I love almost all things black and white. A couple months ago I received a pressbook and lookbook from We Are Islanders and was blow away not just by the amazing textures at play in the collection, but the time, history, and pure artistic love put into the Tidal collection. In addition the three that make up this design collaboration are focused on making the industry better (hey, sustainability and working conditions in the fashion industry was a huge topic in 2013).

From salmon leather to tide dyed fabric off the Dublin coast, I fell in love with this collection. Check out the images below and read the interview I was lucky enough to get. If you're in Europe, you might be able to find some of these pieces in person but I'll have to wait until We Are Islanders crosses the pond...

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INTERVIEW WITH WE ARE ISLANDERS

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When I think of the stereotypical American view of Ireland I think of cable knit sweaters, wellies, and lots of green rolling hills... but your collection has a totally different feel. It seems much more modern and stark. How did the collective decide on this aesthetic? I love it!
Thanks Christina! The aesthetic has been a long time coming and is a combination of a re-dress's research into unique Irish and other sustainable materials and a keenness to reinvent that idea of a contemporary Irish label. It's hugely inspired by the sea (as you'll have guessed by the name!) and the maritime history of Ireland which is overlooked sometimes. There is huge cultural diversity in the country and as Islanders we've been fortunate to welcome pretty much every cultural influence to our shores. This influence of different cultures has been a massive part of revisiting what it means to be Irish and an Islander.


Wow, there is so much behind your inspiration... We Are Islanders is a collective. How did the three of you come to meet? What is the design process you go through? Was there a certain thought process or mood during the design stage?
We are all committed to making the industry better and met through running events to promote that ethos in Ireland. The design process is always start with materials, then shape and cut. The mood stems mainly from installations or visual art project I'm working on as you can see with the Tidal collection.


You dyed a piece using the high tide of the Dublin Coast Line... Are the rest of your pieces made in Ireland too? (Check out the video here).
Yep!




Having designed and sewn a few things, I always feel an emotional connection to a certain piece. Do each of you have a favorite or story about a certain piece? 
I think for all us the Tide dyed pieces are the most emotive. We spent hours digging holes and constructing chambers on the Dublin coastline. The work was hard and all done by hand... you don't get much closer than that.


Haha, of course not. The film of the process was completely inspirational. The Tidal collection brings a contemporary twist to Irish fabrics. Can you describe some of these materials for those that are not familiar? 
The Irish fabric are wool and linen both historic Irish fabrics. The linen is finished using a beating process which gives us that amazing finish.


I love linen. It can be so simple and luxurious. There is a lot of black in this collection... I wish I could feel some of the pieces! For example, what does salmon leather skin feel like and how did you stumble across that type of material?
Textural contrast has been a huge part of this collection so combing salmon leather and linen and wool was an exciting process. The salmon leather feels softer than leather and has more stretch.







I am absolutely obsessed with the Tweed Wool Throw Coat. It looks like a piece that I could effortlessly wear again and again. Do you have any plans of stocking in retail stores in the US? I'd really like to give the piece a whirl. :)
In January we'll be trading in Paris so we hope to see some American buyers there!


I hope to see pieces in the US as soon as possible. I need to know what salmon leather feels like. What's next for the collective? Any exciting things we should know about for S/S 2014?
For spring summer we'll be dying using other tides and working with new Irish producers to push the concept of an Irish fashion brand further.


Other tides... I can't wait to see what's next!

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