The Women’s Autumn/Winter collection has a whole new feel for winter 08/09, still incorporating those ever so popular special Animal pieces but now offering a complete wardrobe. The inspirations behind the range include: surf heritage, tastes of the Orient, old school tattoo and floral. Trends that stand out this season are lumberjack, all over prints (seen on jersey, sweat, outerwear swim and knitwear) and layering, with these key influences echoed throughout the range.
The lumberjack trend is huge this season and the design team have given it their own unique Animal feel. The overall look is tom-boy with a feminine twist including fabric covered buttons on the gilet and jacket and draw cord on the lumberjack shirt creating a more fitted silhouette. Stand out pieces include the Butterfly reversible gilet with fur lining (£54.99) and the Cassia woven yarn cami (£24.99) that can be worn alone or as a layering piece.
Graphics are prominent this autumn and prints are indeed plentiful within the collection. Inspiration came from contrasting elements such as surf heritage and pop culture. The print diversity within the range offers beautiful oriental designs, oversized polka dots and progressive heart and skull and an all over rose print: key pieces include the Jamaica fur lined all over print hoody (£59.99), Buttons kagool (£39.99) and the Jasione all over printed reversible hoody (£49.99).
Another area of the range that has been updated significantly for this season is the women’s denim range. Special attention has been spent on new blocks, washes, colours and detail; with cuts to suit every figure, from the Kimber skinny jean to the Kelsey loose fit, Kerria flare and the Kansas Feather boyfriend.
Women’s Technical Outerwear Range 08/09
This season, the outerwer design team has been working with the Animal team riders to develop a concentrated, well balanced and commercial collection with real appeal to all types of Animal consumer. The 50’s and 60’s has been one of the key themes behind the women’s collections this season as it was a hugely influential time especially in British youth development. With strong influences such as the rockerbilly movement, it was a pretty glamorous and exciting time which has been incorporated in many of the design cues in the 08/09 collection.
Prints are once again strong this season – an elegant all over floral print has been developed, as well as the classic pinstripe print reworked for this season. Giant oversized polkas are still really big for 08/09 and cute repeat heart designs have also been designed for certain jacket panels. Colour palettes include rich browns, graphic black and whites, pummice stone grey and soft plumb – plus, eggshell blue and orchid pink are still hot and classic olives for a little bit of a GI Jane feel.
A lot of time has also been spent in sourcing more ‘natural feel’ fabrics. The top end Cherry Jacket features high spec WP20,000/MVP20,000 full dull stunner stretch twill and new technical herringbone fabrics in combination with more conventional poly or poly/rayon mixes have also been used. Main features include good linking systems, excellent pocket layouts, well thought through cable management systems and magnetic fastenings.
Rider Signature Line
Following the success of the Rider Signature collection from last year, it has been developed further for 08/09. Sonia Shaw and Kate Foster have given their input and feed back across the entire range as well as their own signature jackets. Key pieces include the Sonia Shaw Cherry Jacket (£169.99) and the Kate Foster Lola Jacket
(£139.99).
Animal Recycled
Animal has been looking at this area closely and has been working on a very small “Recycled Development Collection” using recycled fabrics, zips, Velcro and snaps, etc. The men’s and women’s jackets are real research pieces to see what can be achieved by mixing sustainable materials and technology with the technical requirements of performance outerwear fit for the slopes.
