Cooperative Designs

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

I made a pit stop at London Fashion Week on Saturday, attending the Cooperative Designs' soiree in honour of its spring/summer 2011 collection.

Founded by Annalisa Dunn and Dorothee Hagemann in 2007, Cooperative Designs have brought in Bollywood for this season's line, mixing Art Deco shapes and illustrations with harem pant and kaftan references. Inspiration for the colonial, fantasy collection came from Kenneth Anger's book, "Hollywood Babylon", which encapsulates glamour and scandal in the 1920s, the film "Death on the Nile", and the idea of creation without first-hand experience. While we found it hard to spot the Indian influence, the CD ladies assured us it's there.

The spring 2011 collection includes heavily patterned dresses, in addition to hand knitted jumpers and skirts, all of which was beautified in this presentation by the setting, a polished pianist, and champagne. It was a divine fantasy.