McQueen’s new campaign reintroduces a familiar silhouette
Tim Walker takes Alexander McQueen's iconic Manta bag back to its source and the results are breathtaking
Though McQueen has been churning out some of high-fashion’s most daring and delicious collections for over thirty years, the house’s most iconic designs come from the earlier part of the 20th century. Think: the legendary Skull Scarf, or the De Manta bag.
Though the bag has been a brand staple since its original release in 2010, it’s been given a new lease of life with a fresh campaign brought to you by esteemed photographer Tim Walker. Rebranded as the Manta bag, the campaign shoots the collection in the environment which houses the animal that inspired it: underwater.
Symbolising the elegance and unpredictability of the ocean, the imagery captures both stillness and movement: the model frozen in time surrounded by air bubbles, tousled hair and swirling skirts (skull print, of course, as an homage to other famed McQueen designs from the era). It represents the clash between urban and organic met in the manufactured design inspired by a form of nature.
The bag itself takes the soft form of the manta ray’s wings and makes it a little more sculptural and geometric, but uses supple leather to ensure it can still adapt nature’s intentions and the wearer’s usage. The campaign highlights the silhouette in classic black, eye-catching red and an edgy dark metallic gunmetal grey, and though the pieces stand out enough on their own, there’s complimentary bag charms up for grab in pearl, crystal and chandelier if you’re hoping to personalise a little more. Shop the collection here.
Credits:
Images courtesy of McQueen
Words: Cable Writers
