Gareth Pugh’s Dazed archive35 Images
view more +
Gareth Pughis adesigner who shattered the monotony of an era of commercial fashion. Whether pumping the smell of chlorine into the Palais de Tokyo or sticking two fingers up at the conventional runway by showing his clothes in video installations and dance performances, he’s pushed British fashionto new extremes – and has never been afraid tobreak a few rules in the process.For Sunderland-born Pugh, it’s been ten years since his first London Fashion Week show, and after leaving for Paristo stage hisSS09collectionunder the guidance of then-mentor Rick Owens, he’sback to celebrate the major milestone in his creative hometown. As Pugh explains, “London is where everything began for me – it’s where I live and work and my entire creative family is here.” A retrospective show of Pugh’s work will be on display at Galeria Melissa, Covent Garden, from today (February 11)untilthe end of May. To mark the occasion, we’re taking a look at the definitive moments ofPugh’s career witha visual homage to welcome home Britain’s most loved dark-side designer.
2003
The Peckham !WOWOW! Collective
“Money can’t buy you happiness” is a term the !WOWOW! collectivewould fully back. Alongside Dazed’s senior contributing fashion editor Katie Shillingfordand artist Matthew Stone (two long-term collaborators), Pugh was a member of the south London group of creative students and graduates who squatted in an old department storeon Rye Lane, turning it in to a rent-free artistic space which stagedparties and performances.
APRIL2004
CSMgraduate collection makes it on to the cover of Dazed
In an unheard-of featfor a graduate designer, Pugh’s seminal Central St Martinsgraduate collection was featured on the cover of Dazed’s April 2004 issue. Styled by Nicola Formichettiand shot by Laurie Bartley, the image of angled limbs and oversized red-and-white balloons remains an iconic early image of Pugh’s career.
FEBRUARY 2005
First show at LFW with Fashion East
Pugh laid the groundwork forthe likes ofMeadham Kirchhoffand J.W.Andersonin his work withFashion East, the non-profit organisation which supports promising young design talent through funding and mentoring. His first show for the schemewas a darkly theatrical affair, where male and female models stalked to catwalk to Nirvana’s “Love Buzz” and the audience whooped in delight.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Seminal SS07 Show
Models in towering platforms treading across a cascading cotton runway designed by Simon Costinadded to the memorability of Pugh’s SS07show. A lesson in the avant garde, the show was rife with gothic harlequin-style checkerboard print, super-structural looks and sex-club latex, while models’ faces were obscured by masks. Watch it here.
JUNE 2007
Fashion in Motion at The V&A
Pugh’s idiosyncratic designs took to the stage at the V&A’s prestigious Fashion in Motion show, a live catwalk event which takes place within the museum and showcasesthe best design talent of the modern age. Billowing structures, horizontal black stripes and the designer’s signature masks all featured during the June 2007 show.
MusicThe miseducation of Mk.gee
OCTOBER 2008
Dazed cover in collaboration with Nick Knight
Dazed’s October 2008 issue sawtwo fashion pioneers join forces, asSHOWstudio’s illustrious photographer Nick Knightpaired up with Pugh to create an image for our cover. Pugh’s structural designs were married with organic, woodland forms and treated with a heavy dose of black.
JANUARY 2011
Shows as Pitti’s guest designer using a fashion film by Ruth Hogben
Pitti Immagine #79 saw Pugh showcase a collection rife with religious iconography – but not in the conventional way. Filmmaker Ruth Hogbenlent her expertise to create a visually perturbing fashion film to display Pugh’s work, underlining his desire to radicalise the fashion-show format.
MAY 2011
Beyoncé wearsaGareth Pughdressandshoes in “Run theWorld (Girls)”
Who run the world? Girls and Gareth Pugh, apparently. Queen B’sinspirational smashfrom 2011 saw her busting some serious moves in the video, wearing a dress and shoes designed by the Brit. The singer is a long-time Pugh fan,previously opting to wear not one but twoof his dresses atthe MTV Europe Awards in 2008.
SUMMER 2014
Pugh’s Labyrinth feature in Dazed with his AW14 collection
For our summer 2014 issue, Bertie Brandesmet Pugh for an in-depth discussionregarding his sensory shows (he’s been known to pump smoke and chlorine into spaces) his design process and his stripped-back AW14 collection. “There’s always something dealing with opposites in what I do,” explains Pugh.
SEPTEMBER 2014
Performance show in NYC
Pugh had his audience out of their seats – literally – with his SS15 performance showin New York City. Smoke and LED screens accompanied the dancers dressed in his designs. “Tonight, if you want to see it you’ve got to fight,” said Pugh,causing us to wonder whether it was time to reinvent the runway.
Gareth Pugh x Melissa at Galeria Melissa Covent Garden runsFeb 11–May 31
Liked this? Head here for more:
Gareth Pugh’s Labyrinth: “There’s always something dealing with opposites in what I do”
The man behind the iconic showspaces of Pugh, McQueen and more
20 questions with Gareth Pugh
