Racing Down the Runway
Sports have become a fashion show, as celebs sitting in the stands, and players' extravagant game day looks have been making headlines. What happens when a company takes that idea to a whole other level?
Source: Pexels
“Designed to Race: Front Row” was a collaboration between Mclaren and fashion students from the University of the Arts in London, which premiered on September 17. 46 students created looks inspired by the eras of McLaren in Formula 1, spanning from the 1970s to the 2020s. Video clips, sportscars, and outfits correlating to different decades created a full visual evolution for the audience. As each model walked down the runway, the fans were immersed in McLaren history as archival pieces were brought back, such as racing boots and jackets worn by famous drivers of the past. The show concluded in the current papaya era of the 2020s, utilizing the signature orange color. An iconic look from this period was a cape made out of an old car seat, showcasing how the designers worked with rigid textiles and physics to form silhouettes.
In the world of Formula 1 racing, Mclaren has dominated the game with 205 Grand Prix victories. Their engineers construct each car, looking at the science and mechanics to get every part at peak performance. Mclaren shared the showcase to their audience online and at their headquarters, highlighting these features. While the show’s visuals helped convey the ingenuity of Formula 1, it also enabled their audience to catch a glimpse of the capabilities of couture. Both industries turn precise designs into technical masterpieces, proving that fashion and sports share more similarities than people would assume.
The mechanics and engineering technology used for racecar design was incorporated into the looks themselves. Aerodynamics played a pivotal role for the designers as they found a way to use debris as a fabric. A scarf featured in the collection was made of recycled car materials and connected through interlocking parts, a technique similar to constructing cars.
Louise McEwen, the Chief Marketing Officer for McLaren, spoke on the collaboration stating that, “Both are incredible high-performing teams coming together with incredible craft, creativity and ingenuity at the heart of everything that we do.” While the runway and racetrack are different outlets to display technical expertise, the project combined aspects of each to bring a new definition to racewear.
Some people may detach themselves from an industry because it doesn’t align with their interests, but audiences of both the sports and fashion worlds are coming together to realize that they have a lot more in common than suspected. Racing fans enjoy the elite strategy, and technology of motorsports, while fashion critics appreciate the craftsmanship of couture. This collaboration shows that the formula for designing an outfit is just as complex as the engineering it takes to compete in Formula 1, opening up the door for future innovations in both fields.
Have you ever considered the similarities between cars and couture? Comment Below!