Skeleton Legs

James Millar for Spring/Summer ‘08.

To summarise the work of James Francis Millar as kaleidoscopically colourful would be accurate but does not do justice to his refreshingly vibrant knits and prints. Radiating exuberance the pieces melt sophistication and optimistic naivety into one with effortless ease. Ambiguous enough to be worn by men or women, Millar’s knits and prints possess a desirability strong enough to make you want to own a piece whether you want to wear it, just look at it or simply satisfy yourself in the knowledge that it’s yours.

Hailing from a small town outside Glasgow, 25 year old Millar’s natural love of colour and pattern was channelled into printed and knitted textiles at the renowned Glasgow School of Art, and subsequently honed at the equally illustrious Central St Martins fashion MA. Millar’s formal training ran concurrently with numerous seasons working for print alchemist (and fellow Celt) Jonathan Saunders as well as stint assisting the fashion team at vanguard style bible Dazed and Confused.

The melange of influences which ignite the creative inspiration behind Millar’s work have little common ground other than an obvious energy and a bias towards the hedonistic love of excess. The heady glam rock movement and ambiguous late seventies/early eighties artists (including David Bowie circa Ziggy Stardust and early eighties era Prince) fuse with the body consciousness of dancewear. 1920’s Art Deco intensely detailed illustrative plates from Gazette du Bon Ton, the chaotic collage work of Jean Paul-Goude and the work of sculptor Janine Janet all combine in the pot pourri of sources which result in Millar’s idiosyncratic garments.

More photos are provided after the jump.