September 19, 2020 |
Is there an age limit for national treasure status? Matty Bovan is making a serious case for the category to be extended to his generation. The ultra-creative, upcycling king is a champion of the Yorkshire’s localism and craft. He was once seen as a madcap outlier but now his values are being recognised.
He made his mark on London Fashion Week with a heartfelt film documenting his creative process. It showed how he created his collection in the garage of his grandmother’s house in York, using leftover fabric from previous collections and denim scraps from Isko Denim.
Taking inspiration from, “Elizabeth the First, the Tudors, the history of York, and my grandmother’s yellow floral carpet and curtains,” the film showed how Bovan builds his fabric sculptures, on mannequins. He collaged leftover Liberty print fabrics with flag designs and heraldic shields, twisting and draping them into regal silhouettes then adding jewellery designed by his mum Plum as the finishing touch. The film couldn’t show the energy of his catwalk but it did capture the contemplative process that goes into Bovan’s work.
