Film by Mr Jacopo Maria Cinti, Associate Art Director, MR PORTER
Words by Mr Dan Rookwood, US Editor, MR PORTER
What I try to do with my shows is create a moment, create ‘a thing’ – something that people will remember,” says London designer Mr Oliver Spencer of his catwalk productions. His show in January 2014 certainly achieved that, albeit unintentionally, when moments before the models were due to emerge, a heating pipe burst and showered VIP guests on the front row. But after a short delay to mop up and dry off, the show went on.
In January of this year, Mr Spencer, 43, found himself in hot water, again – this time of his own making. He had brought in The Turbans, a travelling band of Bohemian folk musicians, to live soundtrack the show. However, the dress rehearsal was a disaster. “It was mental – they suddenly broke out into a big argument,” says Mr Spencer. “Honestly, I was this close to cancelling them.” He shakes his head. “The Turbans were more stressful and emotionally draining than anything else.”
MR PORTER spent a crucial 24 hours with Mr Spencer as he and his team put the finishing flourishes to a collection he describes as “much more tactile, much more luxurious, much cleaner and a bit more grown up”. Meet him, his team and his travelling band in our film above, and shop the looks straight from the show in our edit below.
