LFW: Richard Sorger SS10

For his Spring/Summer 2010 presentation during London Fashion Week, Richard Sorger continues his exploration of traditional couture hand-embellishment techniques, while subverting expectations of beauty and traditional luxury. His presentation was also be the first opportunity to see his new second line, RJS by Richard Sorger.

The inspiration for the new collection was a 1984 collaboration between Grace Jones and Keith Haring, photographed by Robert Mapplethorpe, in which the artist decorated the performer with his characteristic graphic style, evoking a contemporary shaman, or goddess. The collection comprises six highly-distinctive and embellished cocktail and party dresses, each named after a song by six iconic female singers; Grace, Siouxsie, Nico, Polly Jean, Kate and Patti. As ever, Richard Sorger’s ideal customer is a strong-minded, strident, creative, independent woman.

The new line, RJS by Richard Sorger, maintains the same spirit of beautiful hand-embellishment as the main line, but is aimed at younger fashion-forward women at more affordable price-points. The collection of thirty-two pieces is already selling well and will reach the shops in January 2010. The easy to wear clothes have clean lines, bold graphics and reprise such decorative motifs as the highly successful skeletons and scrollwork from previous seasons.

RJS by Richard Sorger complements and develops another collection, Richard Sorger for asos.com, that is currently available.

With three concurrent collections that interlink thematically and decoratively, but each aimed at different customers, SS 2010 really is Richard Sorger’s season!

In 2006 Richard started designing his eponymous label and currently sells worldwide. Clients include Courtney Love, Jennifer Lopez, Cindy Crawford, Kate Beckinsale and Heidi Klum. He has been commissioned to produce special pieces for Swarovski and for the Victoria and Albert Museum and recently he has collaborated with Meadham Kirchhoff, Manolo Blahnik (for Meadham Kirchoff) and the on-line retailer asos. In 2006 he co-authored the book called 'The Fundamentals of Fashion' published by AVA Books, and he is currently the final year design tutor on the BA (Hons) Fashion Design course at Middlesex University, London.

Image: Richard Sorger