This month Hoxton’s Goodhood Store received it’s Spring Summer 12 drop of Antipodium womenswear. The collection features a collaboration between the label’s designer Geoffrey J. Finch and London-based illustrator Miriam Ivanoff. Asked to design flora and fauna themed prints for the range which showed during London Fashion week last September, Miriam’s illustrations picture stems of yellow florals and a detailed tangle of cats and dogs which work seamlessly with the ultra-wearable spring collection.
After falling in love with the barely there silk panelled t-shirts, all-over print dresses and short sleeve button downs, Sweet and Sound caught up with Miriam for a chat…
What challenges did you face illustrating for clothing?
The main challenge was bearing in mind that the finished product was supposed to look refined enough for someone to want to wear it. I’d only really done flyers and editorial illustration before Antipodium and have never previously had to worry about wearability. It meant I spent a lot more time editing than I usually do. Repeat print has to be a lot more stylized than a flyer or single page magazine illustration so I had to constantly check that the design looked good repeated and not just on its own.
Do you plan to collaborate further with Antipodium or other fashion brands?
I’ve just painted a giant version of the animal print on the Urban Outfitters display window in Oxford street and I’m talking to their display manager about possibly showcasing more of my work in-store. We’ll see what happens with that.
The floral design and dog/cat print are quite different stylistically, was this a conscious decision?
The floral design is supposed to look more traditional except for the roots which Geoffrey J. Finch wanted to slightly resemble testicles. But only if you look close.
What is your preferred medium?
Nice brush markers are the best.
What are you inspired by at the moment?
The class safaris going on in Sweden right now. They’re guided coach trip tours to rich areas in Stockholm and their aim is to educate people about class divides. Brilliant and funny!
What are you hating at the moment?
I’m both hypersensitive and an all-around complainer so this is hard to narrow down. On a daily basis I am deeply annoyed by things like itchy fabrics and the noises the tube trains in London make.
What music do you listen to in the studio?
I don’t have a studio, and I tend to watch streamed tv shows while I’m working; stuff like How I Met Your Mother, Glee, Up All Night, 30 Rock, Project Runway and Community!
Check out the rest of the Antipodium collection currently stocked at Goodhood store, here.
Images | goodhoodstore.com, Miriam Ivanoff, catwalking.com