Desigual Trumps MNG
By : May Lin Tang
Spanish designer brands are not too often given their fair amount of limelight on our shores, save for the exception of MNG, whom we all know is a pain to walk into come sale time. So upon discovering Desigual, another Spanish high street store offering casual, funky clothes for the hip, urban fashionista; I was delighted not having to venture in to La Bodega to cure my fixation for all things Spanish. Maybe I got this fixation from their hour(s)-long siestas or Penelope Cruz.
Desigual, founded by Thomas Meyer since 1984 at the young age of 20, is certainly not for the wallflower. The brand is naturally a favourite in their hometurf, as well as establishing itself in other countries like Italy and Portugal. After all, with their slogan “Desigual is not the same,” it wouldn’t be surprising to see the brand communicating their hippy and fun-loving aesthetic to other corners of the globe.
Filmy dresses and tops, silk cargo pants, and a range of denim including overalls thrown into the mix - they all bear distinctive and colourful prints in loud and happy colours, assuring to getting one noticed.
Graffiti and scrawlings in bold colours are key motifs throughout, with brightly-hued florals and the trademark Desigual logo all part and parcel of the signature look behind this brand. However, don’t be afraid if these seem a step up from the tacky tees you see at Chinatown or your local market; as some may be a little too “out there” and make you look a fashion victim or were dressing in the dark. A prime example would be the sheer striped and dainty floral patch button-down shirt for men that I dare say no gay or straight man would touch with a 10-foot-pole.
Barbs aside, look out for the quirky sketchings of hippy chicks on dresses and the painterly prints, mod and patchwork designs (though it wouldn’t be hard to, since it’s a veritable riot of colour when entering the world of Desigual) that are prevalent in the collection. It’s almost like having a graffitied wall transferred onto fabric without having to resort to spray paint yourself.
“Various techniques have been developed in order to convey countless feelings. Penmania, felt-tip penmania, watercolourism, devorés, enzymatic washes, patchmania, collage and hand-embroidery are some of the most used techniques.” It’s almost as if David Hockney, Warhol or Basquiat had made peace with their canvas and decided to move onto fashion design.
Desigual also has a range of children’s wear and bags:
Photos from Desigual
Excerpt taken from Bread and Butter
Stockists :
Desigual Store Singapore
1 Harbourfront Walk
Vivocity
Isetan
4/1-4/2 Central World Plaza
Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok
Theodore’s The Store
628 Oriente Street
Binondo
Manila, Phillipines
