When Giacomo Puccini wrote the tragically romantic opera Madame Butterfly at the turn of the 19th century, I doubt he was expecting to inspire a entire line of menswear!Set in a home within the city of Nagasaki in the 1890’s, Madame Butterfly narrates a story of a dashing US Navy officer who falls in love with a 15-year-old girl whom he compares to a fragile butterfly.
From the beginning of time, soldiers have been falling in love with someone where they are stationed. This is precisely what designer Chris Cheng of the Sydney-based company Local Art Base (LAB) had in mind for spring/summer 2010:
“My aim for this collection is to emulate the mental processes of soldiers in love. Just like love, the pieces had to have an element of longevity in them, but yet variations that celebrate the emotional landscapes of someone that's deeply in love. Classic styles were updated with unexpected fabrics or applications to provide something of interest and something that speaks to the heart.”
Photo & slideshow Copyright Local Art Base.
