London – Dublin-born menswear designer Robin Lynch has teamed up with CB to unveil an upcycled capsule featuring an Irish player for his Fall 2024 runway show.
The designer, who focused on his father's football past as a source of inspiration in the preview seasons, this time spotlights his younger sister Adriana, a professional Irish dancer, in the rhinestoned, over-the-top dresses worn during fetes. Gaelic Dance Championship.
Inspired by Beyoncé's white lace Grammy dress in 2016, Lynch, who recently redesigned a dress she made for her sister for her tour with a group, said the BBC documentary „The Year That Rocked Irish Dancing” inspired her. Combine her Irish heritage with her passion for performance wear for Fall 2024.
„It's about a cheating scandal where people pay judges. The dance started out as a traditional group dance and then it evolved into this competition, but it's totally bonkers. I think it's campy and culturally significant, but also symbolic,” he said.
“When I watch the documentary, these kids are amazing athletes. They are dedicated to their craft and they practice five times a week. It got me thinking about their performance wear and how the CP company also takes themselves very seriously. Their level of production, functionality and performance are similar to this glitz and glam,” he added.
The main collection features quirky, subtle knots to elaborate pageant dresses costing up to £4,000, such as these diamante mini skirts, custom-made by an Irish dance company in Birmingham, worn under a loose sweater or sports jacket. .
Meanwhile, the collaboration with CB Company comes with limited-edition pieces reimagined through Lynch's lens, deconstructing deadstock CB Company clothing while keeping the functionality of the original design.
„I pitched them a project and took into account the dance costumes, which were made at the same time. So I wanted these jackets to be completely one-of-a-kind. When they go on sale on my website, each one will be in different sizes,” Lynch said.
In one design, Lynch embedded knitwear into the design, and the CP company's signature glasses were lasered into this capsule, along with Celtic embroidery woven into the hoods of the jackets.
„I wanted to make them our silhouette. Normally they're very fitted. I wanted them to have a boxy, sculpted feel. I changed the position of the logo with the badge,” he added.
According to Lynch, the collaboration comes after more than a year and a half of relentless efforts to connect with the Italian brand. He was introduced to the company by Andrew Groves, Professor of Fashion Design at the University of Westminster and Director of the Westminster Menswear Archive. The Groves archive is known to hold a significant amount of CP Company material.
„For me, it's exciting to work collaboratively and share an archive pool and reference sources. At a point in my career, it's an accessible way to acquire materials that don't necessarily require my design execution ability or manufacturing skills. I want to pursue this concept and push it into the realm of luxury.” Lynch said.
For the show, the designer teamed up with Geox to create a series of prototypes that embody the dad shoe trend.
“I knew I wanted to mention my dad's all-time favorite shoe, the timeless Geox Yumo Snake. We created three variations, each in a different mix of browns and blues, seamlessly integrated into the silhouettes,” he added.
Founded in 1971 by Massimo Osti, a young graphic designer from Bologna, CP was originally known as Chester Berry and made a name for itself by releasing screen-printed t-shirts. In the wake of lawsuits filed by Chester Barry and Fred Perry, who claimed Osti had illegally used their name and surname respectively, the brand's name was changed to CP Company in 1978, opening the way for a more experimental design approach and focus at once. on outerwear that attracted international youth subcultures.
Today, creative director Paul Harvey and Massimo's son Lorenzo – who has served as president since 2019 – continue the business, which in 2015 came under the control of Chinese conglomerate Tristate Holdings Ltd., which also owns the operating rights to Nautica, Cissonne and Reebok. China.
Lynch made her runway return in 2022 with outdoor brand Columbia. The same year, it was nominated as one of eight brands competing for the 2023 International Woolmark Prize. Last year, he presented „Greetings from Ireland” at the Now Gallery in Greenwich, London.