Atelier: The Inventors of Tradition 2011

Atelier is the name of the collaboration between Lucy McKenzie, a Glaswegian artist based in Brussels and Beca Lipscombe, an Edinburgh-based designer. Over the past year the duo has been working on The Inventors of Tradition project, for which they researched created notions of national identity in archive material from the Scottish fashion and textile industry since the 1930s.

As a result of their project, Atelier have created a collection of garments that beautifully combine art, design and social history. Items on sale are knitwear, woven, raincoats, workwear and accessories – all geared around McKenzie and Lipscombe’s determination to use the best of Scottish manufacturing, in order to create a wardrobe geared towards working women.

Atelier has been working with established manufacturers, including Mackintosh, Caerlee Mills, McRostie of Glasgow, Hawick Cashmere, Begg Scotland and Janette Murray Handknits. Expect elegant lines, simple but striking design and flowing material.

Highlights of the collection are McKenzie’s work coats (she teamed up with tailor Steven Purvis) which were inspired by historical models, and Lipscombe’s cashmere and knitwear, made to be worn with the work coats. The collection shines through the duo’s contemporary take on classic Scottish items, and their modern and elegant work. The strong artistic statement underlying the pieces nicely supports the already high-quality design and materials.

The collection is touring throughout 2011 and this showroom will be an opportunity for visitors to try on items; a sales person will also be on hand to offer advice or provide details on Atelier and their creations.

A catalogue will accompany the exhibition, with launch to take place on Friday 16 September, 5-7pm, in the Mackintosh Museum at The Glasgow School of Art.