Nicholas at Boston’s Regan Smith Clarke has generously offered IMSS readers an exclusive sneak peek of the brand’s upcoming Summer 2011 Collection.
The preview image below is of a v-neck tee titled “Speakeasy,” which Nicholas explains is the centerpiece of the upcoming Collection that is set for release on Tuesday, July 5.
I pretty much stalk Regan Smith Clarke‘s site and have featured their pieces here numerous times, so I was excited that Nicholas was willing to put me in touch with Regan himself, who answered some questions I had about the inspiration behind his upcoming Summer drop. July 5! Mark you calendars!
Is there any specific inspiration going into this summer’s collection?
Regan: RSC’s summer collection is directly inspired by 1920s-era prohibition. A major goal of this release was to draw upon a particular era in American history that was rich with imagery and contained identifiable themes. I feel with these designs, that goal has been achieved.
RSC has always been and always will be a vintage art-inspired brand. However, I’ve become increasingly aware that the definition of “vintage” is a bit vague these days – it seems to encompass anything and everything from the past. By providing a contemporary take on the art that inspires me, I feel RSC is able to continually shine and stand out in a sea of similarly inspired clothing labels.
Was there a certain number of designs you were looking to put together for the summer?
Regan: There weren’t a set number I had my heart on releasing – I actually scaled back the size of the release because I felt there were a few designs that ultimately were not fitting with my overall vision. I was more focused on choosing creative, but cohesive designs.
RSC does have plans however, to release several limited edition reprints – including our very popular “Russian Doll” design – and various other products this summer at the San Francisco and Chicago installments of the Renegade Craft Fair, Boston’s South End Open Market (SoWa) and more. Keep your eyes peeled!
Anything notably different from this season compared to your previous seasons?
Regan: Yes, an element noticeably different in this release compared to the last is the absence of the full company name from the designs. The RSC acronym is still prevalent, just integrated in very subtle ways. We also experimented with some new stuff: 50/50 blends, V-necks and more.
Overall, the style may have changed, but the core brand message has not.