London Fashion Week Review – Matty Bovan

Matty Bovan AW19 ‘In Uncertain Times, This Is A Sure Thing!’

In creating the collection Matty Bovan spent six months researching the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, obsessively reading about the Lancastrian massacre against mysticism, becoming consumed by folklore and myth. Stating “I’m skeptical about magic, of course, which in many ways makes it all the more fascinating.”

For this seasons collection Matty was approached by Liberty London inviting him to visit the Liberty Fabric archives and partner with them for the collection. He selected their Tana Lawn pattern, scaling up the tiny graphics to find the wizardry in the colour blend, while turning the collection into an exploration of Englishness, as divined through his unique eye.

Pieces in the collection featured a Liberty Fabric print blouse in four different colourways, with shoulder frilling and an Edwardian neckline, alongside a waxed kilt amongst the many exuberant garments.

The Liberty was not the only partnership of the season as the show also included headwear made by Stephen Jones for COACH X Matty Bovan, featuring Coach Signature fabric. Katie Hillier fashioned collectable outsized keyrings for the collection, as well as hair scrunchies and bows in Liberty Fabric prints. Gina for COACH x Matty Bovan footwear also features Coach Signature fabric, as well as GINA for Matty Bovan footwear in clumpy sludge fake snakeskin, cappuccino-coloured stack lace-ups, and the fabric of a thigh boot looking something like a luxurious diesel slick. As well as the show backdrop being fashioned from the impressions of the Yorkshire stately home, Burton Agnes Hall, created by artist Rory Mullen, who has also customised the sticks the models clasp.

Images: Shaun James Cox