"A Meeting of Cultures": Daniel Fletcher Blends British Heritage with Chinese Craftsmanship in the New Mithridate Collection
Designer Daniel Fletcher continued his exploration of the cultural intersections between the UK and China in his second collection for Guangzhou-based Mithridate.
Fletcher reflected on how both sides celebrate the changing seasons: from the elegant dandy outings during Royal Ascot, to the wild nights at Glastonbury Festival, to the annual summer Henley Regatta on the River Thames, a popular event among London's elite.
This reminded him of his firsthand experience of the exhilarating Dragon Boat Festival races on the Pearl River in Guangzhou at the end of May, when he was there developing the collection with the local team in his studio, located right next to the factory.
These multicultural references resulted in a collection rooted in English heritage, but designed for a global audience that transcends the vagaries of the weather.
Collection Details: A Mix of Classics and Boldness
Wardrobe essentials were presented in soft sand-washed silk and pastel merino wool. Formalwear was given a playful Mick Jagger twist, while outdoor pieces were rendered in vintage leathers and delicate prints for the changing weather.
Fletcher also drew inspiration from the gay and romantic world of Brideshead Revisited, presenting college-inspired pieces such as the rowing blazer with the Mithridates logo, inspired by old photographs of Eton College, and the navy quilted bomber jacket with checkered shorts.
The do-it-yourself approach adopted by the young artist David Hockney also played a key role. "I found this beautiful image of Hockney sitting in a winter garden," Fletcher said. "This kind of clash of colors, textures, and patterns is something I find inspiring."
Meanwhile, his admiration for Chinese craftsmanship can be found in the fine details. The final look in the collection, a delicately embroidered dress, was hand-beaded using a traditional technique to create a pattern resembling the squares of a picnic basket, for example.
