Written by Maite Catti

Forum took its inspiration from its Brazilian roots, with this seasons’ theme of the collection being shadow and clear water, translated in various different ways. For example in the design of a sleeve which from the shoulder on had an upper piece in the shape of a palm leaf creating a shadow on the garment itself and also with the use of raffia and straw for the jackets and shoes. The play of shadows was also visible in the transparent grey latex layers over the garments, through two coloured pleads in miniskirts, prints of coconuts, palmtrees and the pao de acucar (designed by illustrator Felipe Jardim) and bracelets made of tree bark.

Forum’s strength lies in translating a theme through it’s use of materials, delivering innovative pieces.

Q&A with the designer Forum

What was your collection about?
It started with the ideas of shadows and clear water, something that all Brazilians love. We worked around these two things and explored it in different ways.

Your collections always seem to focus on materials and prints, does it start with the materials or with the prints?
This time it started with the prints, made by illustrator Felipe Jardim, and from there on we used the transparent grey latex layer over his prints to create the idea of a shadow over a garment.

How did you implement this idea of shadows into your designs?
The design of the sleeves is created with an upper piece in the form of a palm leaf, giving the shoulder a round shape and creating an actual shadow on the garment. The materials raffia and straw referred to sunshades and we played with layers of different materials to create further shadow.

Photography by Julian Moura Busquets