The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022 - Issue 31

bitecatwalk EDWARD E nglish designer Edward Crutchley is renowned for his comprehen- sive knowledge of fabrics and has worked with Kim Jones at Dior and Louis Vuitton. He made his official debut on the London Fashion Week womenswear cir- cuit with a rich SS22 collection for non-gen- der-conforming royalty. Using the power of prints, these appeared on oversized knits, sheer dresses, and slashed-up trousers. The show featured 15 looks that opened and closed with two capacious Tudor-Esque gowns. The first was an 18th-century brocade print and the second, an eye-grabbing lurex crepe robe à l’anglaise. The designer collabo- rated with millinery couturier Stephen Jones and gender-neutral shoe brand Roker. Crutchley later revealed the collection was in- spired by queer spaces from London’s history, dating back over 400 years. “In the 1720s, there were more queer spaces and coffee houses per head, and it would’ve been the equivalent of 200 gay bars in 1970,” he said. “Queer culture has been part of London life for centuries, and now it’s time for queer people to talk about it.” He also revealed the sumptuous robe à l’anglaise gown with a corseted bodice was in- spired by 18th-century textile designer Anna Maria Garthwaite’s design but adapted to fit a male torso. www.edwardcrutchley.com CRUTCHLEY FASHION WEEK LONDON Spring/Summer 2022