Amidst the vast gulf of pop culture commentary, spanning from wildly conjectural to theoretically precise falls somewhere the relationship between fashion and art. A longstanding association, the collaboration of these two at times different but infinitely and at once intriguing and doubtlessly inventive industries is not one of recent discovery. And so we, as beings of desirous fantasy let down by our own constant dissatisfaction, become excited, our greedy compulsion for visual stimulation restored when a practitioner with the word ‘new’ attached to their name upholds their title as an industry’s ‘new’ favourite whatever.

Rejina Pyo, the Korean-born London-based fashion designer, is the industry’s most recent discovery into the realm of ‘new’. One of fashion’s most intriguing and aesthetically unique talents of late, Pyo’s dedication to connecting design to varied mediums of visual art is something that has long been practiced in the fashion industry, though not always of guaranteed success or resulting in clothing as visually appealing as they are wearable. Completing her MA at Central Saint Martins in 2012, where her debut collection at London Fashion Week was an initial glimpse at the artistically fuelled aesthetic of the designer, Pyo has since been creating works of quirky idiosyncrasy to make her stand apart from her industry peers and garner fans of the press variety.

Collaborating with global heavyweight H&M, featuring in international publications Elle, Vogue, the New York Times and The Gentlewoman, and participating in exhibitions across Europe and the United States, it is little wonder as to why Pyo is becoming the new household name in modern design, and her AW14 display is no exception to the unspoken rule of ‘new’ resulting in popularity.

Acting on the artistic quality of her work in a more outward and obvious display than perhaps some of her previous displays, Pyo takes a paint-roller clad hand to reinterpretations of silk, hair and wool-blend coats, tops, sculptural dresses, sweaters, classic button-down shirts and mid-length skirts. In a sea of navy, black, white and charcoal come splashes of fuchsia, tangerine, seafoam green and aqua, cutting through the palette of classic and often relied-upon winter hues to reflect optimism in carefully cut and draped works of modern, fashionable art.

Bravo Miss Pyo.

http://www.rejinapyo.com

Words / Grace McBrierty

Photographer / Emir Eralp
Hair & MUA / Laura Estrada
Model / Gaby Loader @ Next