More than a store, SC103’s new bijoux shop on Henry Street is a refuge from the real world. A place where, the designers said, people can come and rediscover how to interact with objects in a sensory way. The antithesis of a controlled, cool minimal megabrand outpost, 25 Henry Street is part and parcel of the brand’s cozy, crafty, DIY ethos. Sophie Andes-Gascon and Claire McKinney were hands-on with the store design, and for fall they were thinking about wardrobes in the sense of physical spaces as well as a collection of garments that reflects the different facets and experiences of the wearer.
With their fall collection, as with all their work, the designers invited people to enter their world, where imagination flourishes and there is room to play. “We invite people to wander there on their own, whether it leads them to a place of familiarity or somewhere new. In either case it’s a place of discovery and calm,” the designers said. There was something untamed, yet not ferocious, about collaged knits with Puli-like fringe that abstractly referenced the Jan Brett children’s books, often featuring beautifully drawn borders, that McKinney so loved as a child. A claret velvet button-front coat with puffed inverted-pleat sleeves that looked like it might have been found in a dress-up treasure chest was actually excavated from Andes-Gascon’s memory. She wore a similar one when, in 4th grade, she played Lady Macbeth dressed in a cloak made for her by a family friend. In a jerkin-like popover with a drawstring stand collar and a color-blocked ensemble there was the fragrance of medievalism.
Protection was a topic the designers had on their minds. In addition to wool, which has naturally water-resistant properties, they used waxed cotton. Corduroys and checks seemed to speak to outdoor adventures and warmth, which has been such a preoccupation this year as winter has made its presence known. No matter the season or temperature, SC103’s designs have an inherent warmth that comes from the collegiality of McKinney and Andes-Gascon and their skilled hands.