Christopher Kane introduces leather goods for AW14

For Autumn/Winter 2014, Christopher Kane has debut his first, fully realised leather good collection, expanding from his signature ‘Pencil Case’ clutch that he showcases each season. Adhering to the strict, traditional ‘haute maroquinerie’ techniques of bag making, the debut line encompasses

a multiplicity of styles and functions from clutches to oversized totes. There are eight new styles in all, finished in an array of premium finishes including calfskins, satined alligator and smoothed python. Each bag features the signature ‘Safety Buckle’ fastening, which originates from the very first Christopher Kane collection for Spring/Summer 2007.

“It is all

about the starting point, our heritage,” said Christopher Kane on the new handbag collection. “For our first bag line I thought it should really reflect where the Christopher Kane collections began: with my Spring-Summer 2007 show. The ‘Safety Buckle’ is a motif from that collection and is something I like to return to, as are the oversized, plastic zips.”

Kane added: “Neon colour is another of our signatures from early on that reoccurs. Then there is the angular influence of the cutting from Spring-Summer 2012. Each of these elements has marked an important moment in time for me and for our collections. And the start of the Christopher Kane leather goods line is another one of those important moments to mark.”

The bags are infused with a contemporary take inspired by Kane’s clothing collections to reflect the brand’s “subverted chic” and feature hand-stitched elastic, oversized plastic zips, baseball stitching, and corded shoulder straps with nubuck shoulder protectors.

Christopher Kane debuts handbags

The collection complemented Kane’s AW14 line, which featured mannish tailoring with double breasted jackets paired with slouchy trousers, alongside the sweet and pretty frills and bows that adorned the colourful knitwear. Kane was also inspired by architectural influences with his ‘flip book’ dresses that featured mille-feuille of organza that looked like pages of a book wafting as the models walked, these layers were placed onto bodices, hemlines and split into pleats.

Commenting on the collection, Kane said: “There is this contrast of hard and soft in the collection, of sinister and sweet. I wanted to look at silk organza in a new, hard, architectural way, which led to the ‘flip book’ dresses.

“The cut-out ‘squiggle’ sleeves also became part of that architectural experiment with form and silhouette. And the tailoring, particularly with the ‘rain splashed’ crystals, is part of that too. You always need a beautiful structure, it is part of the fundamental building blocks of reality.”

The accessories mark the latest development for the fashion label since Kering acquired a 51 percent stake in January last year, the next will be the brand’s first store on Mount Street later this year.

Images: Christopher Kane AW14