Farah AW18 Creation Records

For AW18 Farah takes inspiration from the iconic independent music label Creation Records –  headed up by Alan McGee in 1983. The label publicised the talent of some of the biggest alternative rock bands throughout the 80’s and 90’s including  Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and later Oasis.  

Creation had a DIY attitude at its core. It gave artists the belief that they could create music with very little resource, using tools such as the fanzine to publicise themselves alongside gigging the length and breadth of the country.  

McGee himself had an enthusiasm and uncanny ability to attract the weekly music media and promote his bands.

Fashion at the time was found and inspired by charity shops and  flea markets. Key pieces included  duffel coats, dessert boots and cords, folk rock beads, black leather box jackets, existential mopish hair, Sterling Morrison style roll necks, Vic Godard V-necks and 60’s reversible anoraks.

Farah takes this DIY philosophy and eclectic styling together with the attitudes of the bands that Creation managed. Inspiration is drawn directly from the fashion of the time,  V- neck jumpers, parka coats, corduroy jackets, shirts and trousers as well as looking at details like checks and stripes, bringing them into a modern context. 

The season’s colours are inspired by Creation Records’ in house artist Paul Cannell. His abstract painting became the base for Primal Scream’s iconic album covers. Shades of rust, dark teal and primal red support colour stories featuring hues of blue, earthy browns and military greens.

Graphics are inspired by the cut and paste attitude of the fanzine, a handmade poster or flyer created by collaged magazine clippings and typewriter text which inspired this season’s camo print. Micro prints inspired by album covers all feature throughout the collection as seen on the Butcher coat and the Alan shirt.