Bea SwallowWest of England
Gabrielle Thomas
Nathan Slate’s collection is a commentary on environmental issues, inspired by the English countryside
A fashion designer has made his catwalk debut at London Fashion Week using materials inspired by the rural English countryside.
Nathan Slate, who runs SL-ATE cafe and studio in Bridgwater, Somerset, unveiled his latest textile collection at the biannual global event on 21 September.
His work, titled ‘Mourning: A new dawn where humanity’s last hymn is flies buzzing’, is a dystopian commentary on nature being erased beneath concrete.
The designs were showcased on 21 September during the Fashion Scout’s ‘ones to watch’ event, which spotlights innovative emerging designers.
Gabrielle Thomas
This design features natural wool set into clumps of concrete
Mr Slate said featuring in the renowned global event has been a lifelong dream.
“A lot of fashion designers that I aspire towards started on that stage,” he said.
“To show at London Fashion Week is actually a really difficult thing to do. There’s a lot of red tape around it, so it was an ultimate goal that I wasn’t ever sure I would achieve.”
Mr Slate said living a more rural life means he has to “push down a few walls” to be recognised in the mainstream fashion industry.
“A lot of people say ‘what are you doing here? You should be in London or Bristol’,” he said, “but I’m just inspired a lot in the countryside of England.”
Gabrielle Thomas
Mr Slate’s signature technique involves leaving fabric outside for weeks to be weathered by rain, dirt, sunlight, and time
Mr Slate’s designs often draw upon his rural environment by incorporating crystals, driftwood, and litter collected from countryside walks.
His latest collection features cloudy motifs, ceramic accessories and rainfall-dyed textiles that have been gradually weathered in the exposed elements.
His sustainable approach aims to “challenge traditional boundaries between commerce, art, and activism” by highlighting environmental issues.
Gabrielle Thomas
The catwalks collectively told a story of nature, decay, permanence and fragility
“My work is quite conceptual as I believe we need to be telling stories as designers, not just showing clothes that you can instantly buy,” he said.
“It’s our responsibility to set trends or to speak about something. This work is telling the story of a world where we ignored nature and kept paving over it with concrete.
“I wanted to create a space where fashion doesn’t just celebrate the new, but asks what we’re losing.”