2013-08-21

6 Minutes @ Geoffrey J. Finch

ANTIPODIUM, the name of this fashion brand already brought you the humour of style whether you would like to be seen in the public eye or you would prefer to keep it low but yet with your very own unique style. Antipodium is now stocked by premium retailers around the world has built the reputation for creating clothing with an intuitive, modern aesthetic that references and pays reverence to pop culture. Creative Director, Geoffrey J. Finch finds inspiration in the style-centric collective that are drawn to his east London design studio. The Australian rural Queensland born, London base Finch told mylifestylenews "On stage, off stage, it is all about fun!" during his recent visit in Hong Kong......

Antipodium is a London-based, contemporary women’s fashion brand with a sophisticated aesthetic built from a confident simplicity and capricious nature that is unapologetically addictive - much like the label’s wearers.

The brand was founded by Ashe Peacock in 2003 and was originally established as a boutique and PR and wholesale agency representing top Antipodean brands. I joined in later after I came to London in 2004 and spotted a gap in the market for design-led basics and created a one-off capsule collection to sit alongside other talent in the store.

We were lucky that these wardrobe staples quickly became the must-haves and with encouragement from Liberty and British Vogue. We were then decided it was about time to get serious. We officially launched our  debut collection at London Fashion Week in September 2006.

The collection was then  worn by the fashionistas and art crew comprising editors and stylists, artists, DJs, photographers and the odd Texan heiress. Since then, Antipodium begins to have a loyal following who embrace it as their unofficial uniform.

Antipodium design and style is always with a sense of dramatic approach, cool and humour. Pragmatism, lack of pretension and the combination of London sensibility is the essential design element for the brand.

Ashe and I  have a shared history, having both grown up in quiet Australian towns. The grounded approach to life is, in part, reflected in Antipodium’s aesthetic. It may be at the heart of east London design, but there’s a natural pragmatism; a realness that is an essential
part of the brand.


Once again, we are very lucky to have drawn some high profile fans like Alexa Chung, Carey Mulligan, Beth Ditto, Susie Bubble, Edie Campbell, Pixie Geldof, Poppy Delevigne and Lauren Laverne who enjoy wearing Antipodium and created a style of their own.

TOP GEAR is the theme for Pre Fall 2013 collection, the thrill of slipping into the driver’s seat, pushing pedal to metal and taking control of a throbbing machine. It is a one sweet ride. TOP GEAR pays a visit to the mechanics’ garage, the stamping ground of the auto-obsessed – hot rods, buffed and gleaming; body shops that pump-up, wax and polish, full of revving sensuality, and curves perfected in a shower of sparks.

The inspiration comes from a series of influences: the industrial design of Marc Newson; the hyper-sexuality of Russ Meyer’s Faster, Pussycat, Kill! Kill!; the bashedup beauty of John Chamberlain’s car crash sculpture; and a reimagining of a traditionally male domain – the garage, complete with greased axles, tightening nuts and saucy pin-ups.

Using masculine staples, re-panelled into hyper-feminine shapes, we create a high speed
collision of workwear and refined, delicate design power dressing that is unapologetically sexy. 

Silk crepe de chine pieces with piping details recall car upholstery and go-faster stripes; shearling collars and bomber jacket fronts wink at mechanic chic, and organza contrasts with crumpled foil sash seat belts. A punchy palette of Daytona mustard, midnight, anthracite, grenache, sky and dusk is accented with tail-light orange, metallic spearmint and hi-vis green.

We continue the adroit collaboration with artist Karl Maier of Craig & Karl, expanding the role into art direction and set design for both Pre-Fall 13 and AW13 collections. 

For TOP GEAR Maier’s Dashboard print – over inky navy silk crepe de chine and crisp white poplin – presents polka dot speedometers with the needle way up in the red (and a few auto-erotic surprises hidden in the detail).

The key pieces are the Panel Beater jean jacket and trumpet skirt, and the Intersection dress, skirt and coat, all in clashing leopard skin. The Fonz’s white T-shirt gets an organza sleeve and a swooping poplin back, the Ignition fine-knit cardigan is over sized, skimming the thigh, and the Top Gear nappa bomber has a super-soft shearling front and a slick matching trouser in magenta. 

The Autobahn, a long sleeve print silk shirt dress, is an Aatipodium signature piece. After the full throttle success of last season, the Pre Fall 13 collection TOP GEAR continues the brand’s graphic form, clever and unexpected references, and sophisticated pop aesthetic. It’s time to book in for a service.

People who wear Antipodium shall be capacious, confident, clever, fun to be with, in & out on travel, underlined personal style, visibility, playful, has a hint of darkness, kink, naughty and with easy mix & match sense.

The message that we would like to deliver to the wearer is playfulness, pop culture, humour, sentiment, a bit of disco culture, music and art.

The fabrics I like to work on with unusual combination treatment in it, the hidden details, 3rd or 4th wear detailing and different collaboration in materials. Never say never.

What we would like to achieve for the brand is to be able to create and print our own fabric one day with some technical finishes and work with different factories. That would be the next best development.

Fashion is about people who enjoy living in it, how they react and interpret differently and reflect into their own style. One part of fabulous, one part of farmer, that's got to do with where I was born and raise in the farm.

Hong Kong street fashion style is daring and very fashion forward.

I like to wear a button up shirt with tailored pants.

My favorite possession is the neon board short "Cream Pie" in pink with Gilbert & George print presented to me on my 27th birthday. It was the first edition, Miss Picky got to live......

My ideal way of a living lifestyle is fashion & living comes in first class in my life. 
mylifestylenews @ Geoffrey J. Finch

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