story by Cameron Carpenter
photos by Sandy Ramirez
Malan Breton’s F/W 2009 Collection was not his usual runway show, but an evening walk-around presentation in an art space. The 4,000 sq. ft. Eli Klein Gallery played host to the designer’s latest thread pageant. It was a fun affair attended by an eclectic crowd who were very receptive to the work and seemed to enjoy being able to get close enough for the far better viewing of the skilled young clothier’s fabrics and seaming than one is given parked in chairs five rows back along a catwalk.
Utilizing shades of “barn white” and black, with a couple small punches of color, Malan’s new pieces send out a refined vibe.
There was a standout off-white capelet shirt and pants set, some casual knits with impressive construction, and the whole collection projected elegance, but had enough little tweaks of modernity to never give you a real feeling of stuffiness.
