Eleanor McDonald will present her capsule collection at Pitti Uomo 95

Class of 1990, a graduate of Central Saint Martins in London, the winner of the sixteenth edition of Its - International talent support, the Camera della Moda Award and the Tomorrow Award, Eleanor McDonald is one of the revelations of this edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo where she will be presenting her first capsule collection.

Pitti Uomo is an important goal. What can we expect from this collection?
The new collection is the continuation of the philosophy on which I founded the brand, paying particular attention to the garments themselves and the way they function on the person wearing them. Tailoring remains the foundation of the collection, using a distorted cut for the clothes in order to create a contemporary silhouette.

How would you define men’s fashion according to Eleanor McDonald?
I consider my work to be broader with respect to traditional menswear. Everything is cut and assembled purposely for men but with the intention of being able to be worn by anybody. I like the way this moves the proportions and the silhouette, because it is these organic distortions that form the starting point for my clothes.

Where do you get your inspiration and what helps you to realize it?
Documentary photography is always my main source of inspiration. For this collection, in particular, I have used a large quantity of photos found in antique shops while I was in Trieste for the 2018 edition of International Talent Support. I used these photos to realize the cut and the proportions of the garments and then I started working with the fabric almost immediately. Fabrics can drastically change the appearance of a garment, so I believe it is important to start working with the fabric as soon as possible during the design process.

Eleanor McDonald's model

What is your first memory linked to fashion?
When I was young I always sewed and made clothes, but I started to understand what fashion was through books and magazines. I have a very vivid memory of taking a copy of The Face to my mother and literally reading it from cover to cover. Marilyn Manson was on the cover and it was as though I had never seen anything like it before!

Eleanor McDonald's model