Originally written and posted on Dress the Part by jandrewspeaks

FAUN STUDIO S/S 2021

Faun Studio at Vancouver Fashion Week. In the Gaming Stadium on No 3 RD in Richmond B.C. Vancouver Fashion Week created a runway and a studio to host its virtual presentation for Spring/Summer 2021. In this socially distanced environment, a small group of masked photographers and videographers are ready to capture the coming shows. A handful of chairs are spaced feet apart alongside the runway. Marilyn R. Wilson and I occupy two of these chairs, representing the media. While the circumstances are different because of the current pandemic, the purpose remains the same as always, the exposure and promotion of fashion designers work to the world at large. While we all couldn't gather as an audience to enjoy and experience this event live, a virtual presentation is the next best thing. Here is my first review of the shows, share and support the designers presented.

Marisa P. Clark started her label Faun Studio in 2018. Through hard work, determination, and dedication to beauty Faun Studio is on a meteoric rise. This ethical and sustainable brand is designed in Alberta, Canada, and produced in Vietnam, the homeland of the designer's mother.

Faun Studio is available in boutiques across Canada with the support in sponsorship from Global Fashion Collective. Clark has presented collections on the runways of Vancouver, New York, and Paris Fashion Week. The Spring/Summer 2021 collection, titled “Mountains and the Moon” was conceived at the beginning of the global pandemic. It represents the designer’s reflections on time and impermanence, as represented in the constant yet fleeting nature of the world. 

From the beginning of time mankind has looked to the night sky as a source of mystery. The same dark and starry sky have evoked countless myths, art, literature, and music, and in this case fashion. When times are hard ( such as a pandemic) the natural world seems to be a source of inspiration. In this collection, Ms. Clark is inspired by the fleeting nature of the world. "I used celestial motifs to represent the vastness of the human experience".

The ready to wear collection named Mountains and the Moon is feminine, beautiful, and carefree. Carefree is a carefully chosen word to represent the streamlined unfussy garments that make up this collection. I am not referring to that often overused word minimal which this collection is not, but rather the term well edited. We have no unnecessary details. These are clothes that take a woman through life, from the office to dinner, to a night on the town. "Our customers are people who seek beautiful things. Moving away from trend-driven fast fashion, we focus on creating timeless, elegant pieces for powerful but caring women," says Marisa P. Clark.

Royal purple is a bold choice, embroidered with celestial designs make these standout pieces. Classic silhouettes are made playful and fun with the use of stars and suns in metallic sequin. A purple satin blouse with ivory cropped trousers is sophisticated and chic, this look will turn heads.

The words that come to mind for this collection are cool and desirable. The pieces include jumpsuits, slip dresses, jackets, blouses and others, with a flounce here, and a dangerously short skirt there. This collection has a controlled palette of purple, ivory, navy, and gold with the occasional piece outside that color scheme. A burnt orange day dress is memorable for its streamlined cut. The show ends with several garments in a bold print that uses moons and stars against a night sky background. The print is original and fashion-forward, making a bold statement about the wearer, confident, stylish, and worldly.

The entire collection is fresh, with classic silhouettes. If you are looking for inventive and outrageous Faun Studio is not for you. However, if you are looking for a thoughtful, whimsical style that allows you to mix and match colors, patterns, and textures Faun Studio is your brand.

Thanks to George Pimentel for the photos contained in this post.

Visit our Youtube Channel to watch the entire runway presentation and more of FAUN’s past shows.