Mickey and co get around. Created by Walt Disney in 1928, 86 years later the mascot’s image has been sampled and swallowed by all of the big boy brands, ensuring his is the most iconic mouse face out there, both in the fashion industry as well as on screen.
For AW14 it’s the turn of the (relative) little guy, as Danish label Wood Wood picks up the Disney mantel, translating childhood memories into a House of Mirrors style capsule collection; think Dali circa 1931.
Designed by Brian SS Jensen, the range boasts both men’s and womenswear, with a distorted vision of Mickey Mouse printed across shirts, skirts, tees and jumpers.
For a label whose collections usually fall under the bracket of subtlety (a typical Scandi trait), the appointment of Mickey as something of a brand ambassador could be a garish one, but with Wood Wood's simplicity it works.
Here Jensen fills us in on exactly how it all came about…
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Who asked who?
Well, we basically sat down with a local Disney representative and talked about doing a project together. It was really exciting to work with the Disney Company and although it is a very big machine the whole process went relatively smoothly.
How much creative control were you allowed?
I was actually really surprised how much creative freedom we were given. To be honest I half expected the first directional sketches that I sent out to be rejected, but fortunately they were not! It was a lot of fun playing around with something as iconic as Mickey Mouse.
Which piece are you most excited about?
Probably the sweater or the all-over printed shirt.
Were there any things you wanted to do – or did – that didn't work out as you'd planned?
We were actually given access to not only the Disney universe, but also Star Wars and Marvel characters. One of the biggest challenges was to restrict ourselves to Mickey Mouse. There is so much material that also would have been interesting to work with!
Which is your favourite Disney character?
It used to be Donald Duck – I like when his dark side takes over. However while working on this project I have gotten quite close to Mickey.
Why do you think cartoons work well in a fashion context?
I don't think they always do, but icons are generally very interesting to work with. And in regards to Disney, I think many of the characters trigger something in us that relates to childhood experiences.
Colette will have a Disney x Wood Wood pre-release from 20th October, while it arrives at Liberty and Goodhood later in the month.
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