Coralie Aude Grassin explores Timney-Fowler’s monochrome world at the Fashion & Textiles Museum…
Sue Timney is celebrating 30 years of iconic design on the fashion scene. Even still, her first creations retain a sophisticated look.
If you are not familiar with the artist, do rush to the Fashion and Textile Museum to discover this retrospective: this will get you hooked in no time!
What a great background she had for inspiration: her mother was Scots and her father’s family has a long history with the Indian army. She was born in Libya then moved to Germany, Newcastle and finally London where she studied at the Royal College of Art.
From her travels she carefully collected hundreds of postcards and labels in scrapbooks. Later, she switched to sketchbooks and would collate all kinds of fabric patterns and colours in rainbow rectangles.
She met her future husband, Graham Fowler, at the textile department of the RCA. Her post-modern style was already defined and would remain her signature throughout her career. After graduating, Fowler helped her to print her patterns on ties and t-shirts.
Taking a chance, they took a trip to Paris and succeeded in selling a lot to… Agnes B, no less! Success was on its way.
She later worked with Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg…both for fashion and interior designs. Clothes, china, wallpaper, fabric: you named it, she thought of it.
Her work is hypnotising – at the same time reassuringly familiar, new, humoristic – look closely at the details, minute images arranged in a pattern.
You might think it is all random but Timney is a very precise artist, looking for the perfect shape, position and alignment.
Her natural curiosity pushed her to study a wide range of themes: tribal to tartan, neoclassicism and Japanese calligraphy, never copying but make the style her very own.
We loved the splashes of colours she added in the 80s, bringing a pop dimension to her shirts and scarves. There are also amazing examples of her collaboration with Linda McCartney – soft romantic hues you just want to wrap yourself in.
Who would have thought that life in black and white could be so beautiful? Now is the time to get yourself a little Christmas present – the shop sells a lovely selection!
Sue Timney and the Design of Timney-Fowler runs until April 25, 2011 at Fashion and Textile Museum.
Photos by Coralie Aude Grassin.