story and photography by Adrianna Favero
graphic design by Aya Rosen
print designs by Ben Copperwheat
hair and makeup by Kristy Strate
stylist Soukena Roussi
styling assistant Ashley Roberts
models are Lawrence Annunziata (Identities) and Caesar Stoval (RED)
Ben and Lee Copperwheat do not believe in wallflowers or in clothes that pander to the faint of heart. Even the most cursory glance at their line can tell you that much about their design style. This new collection is a bit of a turning point for the both the brand and its designers. After two seasons of energetic and challenging designs, that while captivating seemed to mystify buyers, the duo decided to follow the torrent of advice to produce a more market-friendly collection for Fall 2011. Unfortunately, this paradigm shift failed to yield any real results and deepen their market penetration. And so, for Spring 2012 these two brave Englishmen are tossing out the rules entirely and doing things their way.
The brand is a marriage of the distinct talents of its leaders. On the one hand is Lee Copperwheat, who guides the design of the line with an eye towards detail and impeccable tailoring, both classic and modern. On the other hand you have Ben, a graphic artist and the mastermind behind the daring and ever-evolving prints that are an integral part of the brand’s signature look. When I first sat down with them to discuss the possibility of doing a feature on the line, I wanted to find a way that would showcase their individual strengths in a fresh way. As our conversations deepened and they explained their revivalist direction for this collection, integrating graphic design seemed to be the perfect solution.
We here at modaCYCLE are thrilled to bring you, in this designer feature, an exclusive first look at the Copperwheat Spring 2012 line, “Smash It Up.” The full collection will be officially unveiled in a presentation on Saturday evening from 7pm-9pm, at 152 Wooster Street in Soho. By invitation. Contact: rsvp@copperwheat.us
