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| Vector XXY |
| March 14, 2008 |
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| Aminaka Wilmont don't need to prove their ability and talent anymore. There's no need for prizes given by Tom Ford to know they are the next big thing. We can easily say that they have now passed to another level that corresponds to the passage from being a talented promise to established reality. And what a reality this is! Marcus's feet are grounded on earth, his mind is sharp as a razor and his politeness and humbleness are rare qualities. His wife Maki has one of the most beautiful smiles we've ever seen. We don't know her that much but we like to think that her smile says a lot of who she is: the other half of Marcus, as Marcus is for her. |
What these two are doing together gives us goose bumps every time. We look at their work and we shiver with pleasure. We know them well, we respect them and love them for the kind of people they are and admire them for the amazing talent they translate in their clothes. No surprise therefore if we're so happy with their success.
Time passes and they refine just like good wine does. With every new collection they take a step forward, adjusting what they didn't like in the previous one. Will it take 3 hours sleep per night for the next 2 years? They don't matter. What counts is the result and it has to be as they expect it. When you expect the best from what you do, there's one way and one way only: you have to give the best you have, and ask yourself how far you can go with your commitment and dedication.
Mom used to say "do you want to do things in the right way or in the wrong way?" The answer is very easy for people like Marcus and Maki. as we said before, there's one way and one way only.
If you think we're over-excited or way too lyric, go and have a look at Aminaka WIlmont's latest collection, presented at London Fashion Week this February. Try searching articles and report of their show on the internet. The winners of the last edition of Colin Mc Dowell's "Fashion Fringe" Competition convinced absolutely everyone from press to buyers with their "Vector XXY" autumn/winter 08-09 collection.
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The show itself was spectacular. Inspired by vector graphics and the 1982 sci-fi cult movie "Tron", the collection made its debut on the catwalk accompanied by laser lights "cutting" the silhouettes on the models, while David Bowie's song "Spaceboy" played.
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Marcus and Maki are gradually leaving their traditional aristocrat style for a more slick and clean look, that keeps all of the quality we are used to from them. Fabrics, colours, the way clothes are cut and hundreds of little construction details all communicate a tailoring ability and an obsession for perfection that is one of the reasons of their success. Another reason is the creativity they inject in all of the pieces.
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This time they have kept an eye for commercial accessibility also, leaving out (last minute decision by the way!) a few pieces which might have been considered too artistic by buyers. The balance they have reached with this collection is equally astonishing. The fact is that looking at almost every single outfit you have the impression that there's some amazing creativity facing you but in a more silent, elegant way. It's there, but not to show off.
We've just come back from our Scouting Tour and unluckily we did not have the chance to meet with Marcus and Maki. When we were still preparing to leave for London (it was the end of February) we talked on the phone with Marcus and were really sad we could not arrange a meeting: Aminaka Wilmont's next destination after London Fashion Week was Paris, and while we were busy meeting students at Royal College of Arts, Central St. Martins and London College of Fashion, Marcus and Maki were busy flying to Paris to show their collection there.
You will hear people pronounce "Aminaka Wilmont" more and more in the crazy fashion circus. And every time our smile gets bigger and bigger...
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