Designer collaborating with iconic brand to launch apparel range as part of SS18 Resort Collection.
London-based fashion label Fyodor Golan has joined forces with Felix the Cat for a special apparel range featuring the iconic character as part of its SS18 Resort Collection.
The capsule collection features both women’s and unisex pieces and includes outerwear with leather patch-working, printed dresses, woven separates and a handmade fully crystallised top.
All feature the instantly recognisable black and white cat cleverly interwoven with Fyodor Golan’s signature bold and playful prints.
The collection has launched as part of The Hoxton Collective, a designer showroom featuring womenswear and ready to wear pre collections from a select group of designers, run by the British Fashion Council.
It will then launch as part of the Resort Collection at select department stores and boutiques worldwide from November.
The deal was brokered by CPLG on behalf of Universal Brand Development.
Libby Grant, global business development director, brands at CPLG, said: “We are delighted to be working with Fyodor Golan who are such highly regarded, innovative and forward thinking designers and have truly put their own unique spin on the iconic Felix the Cat.”
The Source was lucky enough to catch up with Golan Frydman – who, together with Fyodor Podgorny, is behind the label. He told us that they couldn’t wait to begin working with Felix.
“Straight away we said ‘yes, we can do so many things with this’,” Golan enthused.
“We originally started designing it as its own separate capsule collection, but then as it started to form in front of us, it felt that it wasn’t getting the power it deserved for such a great iconic image, so we started to design him into the Resort collection.
“So, Felix starts peeping into garments – you have a garment where you can only see his eyes, one where you can see his hands as well… it’s almost like he’s climbing into the picture.
“As you go deeper into the collaboration, the two really get mixed together – what is Fyodor Golan and what is Felix is really kind of mashed up together and creating its own artwork.”
Golan said that the range has been getting a strong reaction, but what he really likes is that element of surprise.
“Having collaborated with other characters or brands in the past, that is the one thing that is quite unique to the Felix collaboration – people love the character, but clearly haven’t been seeing it around much, so it’s an ‘oh wow, that’s Felix!’ kind of reaction,” he continued. “It’s relatable but in a surprising way and I think today that’s what people are looking for… they are looking to be surprised.”
Golan also said that Universal Brand Development and CPLG had been very understanding of the design process, allowing the label to do things people are usually not allowed to do with the character.
“I think that they walked into the collaboration knowing what they wanted and Fyodor Golan fitted that well. There’s nothing more frustrating than a partner going to a young creative brand that likes to break rules and then gives us 101 rules!
“This is where the synergy works really well… Felix is extremely recognisable on its own, so what do we as young designers who are trying to establish our own voice in the world of fashion, what can we do with it that will be new and refreshing and surprise people, and get them to consider it again as a relevant, pop culture piece for their everyday life.”
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