"THE ICE-CRYSTAL PRINCESS VOL. II - SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL HERITAGE" “The Ice-crystal Princess vol. II – Sustainable Cultural Heritage” is a Jørgen Simonsen capsule collection made entirely in natural and dyed ring seal, trouser seal and harp sealskin featuring 5 Haute Couture silhouettes from daywear in both trouser- and skirt tailleurs over an opulent, draped and constructed Opera-coat to cocktail and evening dresses. Made as a commission by NAPA - The Nordic Institute in Greenland – the brainchild of Katja Vahl V-P and Head of Communications at the institute, with skins sponsored by Great Greenland to promote not only the various aspects of Inuit culture and sustainability in fashion today, but most certainly also to shine a much needed light on the stigmatised, but utterly beautiful material that sealskin is. The collection made its debut during the Cultural Night in Nuuk, Greenland in January 2017 – displayed at The National Museum and it will hence forth form a travelling exposition; first in the Nordic region over the three years following the opening, visiting amongst other places Sisimiut, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Lapland, Helsinki, Struer in West Jutland (Simonsen’s birthplace), Reykjavîk, and Thorshavn, as well as other places in the world like Simonsen's hometown Paris and as part of an upcoming retrospective on the history of the cultural use of sealskin at the Rhode Island School of Design-museum in the summer of 2023. The collection is a musing reflection upon the national costume from Western Greenland, fabulising over history, form, materials, traditional workmanship (local artisans at Kittat and the National Costume School were employed to make the beautiful, traditional albeit strongly modified beadwork and embroidery featured in the collection), cultural heritage and sustainability, but propelled into a Parisian couture-realm as a mere proposal reshaping, relating, reinventing and rejuvenating an already sharply defined sartorial language. The entire collection was shot on location in Greenland at the breath-taking, staggeringly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site Ilulissat Ice-fjord by Danish photographer Peter Christian Christensen, featuring the equaually gorgeous and stunning supermodel Carmen Kass. Enjoy. Photography: Peter Christian Christensen
"OSIRIS OVERDRIVE UNIQUE" - MIXED SEASONS A selection of unique, fashion-driven glasses designed by Jørgen Simonsen over a four-seasonal period for SPECSAVERS' own in-house designer brand OSIRIS. Most frames featured here are developed for actual collections, and have become iconic staple elements in Simonsen’s work for the retailer, where other frames are developed merely as an inspirational, edgy output from the hand of the designer – to aspire and inspire. Enjoy. Photography: Peter Christian Christensen
"YAKUZA CRO-MAGNON" - OSIRIS COLLECTION 2015 “Yakuza Cro-Magnon” is a comprehensive collection of glasses by designer Jørgen Simonsen for British retailer SPECSAVERS. Gorgeous, sleek, modernist eyewear and sunglasses inspired by the origin of specs manifested in iconic staple-styles from history like the Clubmaster, the Wayfarer and the Cateye. Largely reworked and revamped for a 21st century wearer, mixed with cut-throat, hardcore, sleek tech-Japonisme infused with a cool, contemporary twist. The entire collection is made in precious titanium and rich Italian acetate, and it is sold exclusively at SPECSAVERS worldwide. The campaign for this OSIRIS collection is shot using a deliberate, strong, "flattening" direct frontal lighting, which in turn also gives a flattering, stark, modernist expression, inspired by Japanese manga and animé, keeping it all in the spirit of the kingdom of the rising sun. The models in this shoot are also wearing a bespoke collection of silhouettes in complimenting fabrics and materials, also designed by Jørgen Simonsen. Enjoy. Photography: Sune Czajkowski
"5863, TUXEDO TERRACE” – A/H 2015-’16 A full couture collection by Jørgen Simonsen spun over the principles of the formal wear invitation “Black Tie”/“White Tie”, with strong elements of men’s tailoring rendered here in an utterly feminine and sensual silhouette, capturing a raw, empowering and unpolished in-your-face undertone. Certain panoplies derive from the Golden Age of Hollywood and the traditional way of formal dressing in the 1920's and 30's, taking inspiration from and honing in on the tuxedo and all its aspects in particular – hence the name of the collection. Tuxedo Terrace is also a place with many personal memories in the Hollywood Hills – and the collection reflects many of Simonsen's fantastic jobs carried out in this special place, manifesting these memories and sentiments in ornate detailing, beading and 3-D embroideries. However, all the "old world glam" in the collection is set in stark contrast to the much more modern use of futuristic materials, fine leathers and precious skins – all evoking a slight Rock ‘n Roll vibe. The collection is carried out in the tradition of handcrafted couture, but with a super contemporary, yet sophisticated and sensuous approach to dressing for a modern, empowered woman. A commissioned body of work, "5863, Tuxedo Terrace" was designed by Simonsen for a private clientele and presented during the inaugural preview prior to the actual opening of the prestigious real estate project "Musikhuskvarteret" sitting on prime land on the waterfront in the newly refurbished harbour in Aalborg, Denmark. In a very Jørgen Simonsen tongue-in-cheek twist, the collection was shown in the underground parking structure between raw, industrial concrete pillars, with models walking the (almost) just poured concrete floors instead of opting for a string of penthouse suites on the top floor. The mix of high, sartorial culture and a rough, but beautifully contrasting set, gave this ode to dressing well all the edge it needed. Enjoy. Photography: Niklas Højlund - Peter Christian Christensen - Oly Barnsley
"UTZON IN EGTVED" - A/H 2009-'10 The Annhagen A/H collection designed by Jørgen Simonsen, is an ode to sheer beauty; conventional as the wonderfully twisted. With emphasis on cut and drape, heroines - tragic and majestic; imperial and sartorial, with references to the past but magically embedded in a sharp, well-defined and utter feminine future - rise this winter collection of eclectic luxury amongst heroes of cut and build. The strong, singular language of the collection speaks of new and daring horizons with high potential of becoming contemporary wardrobe staples: sharp, precision-cut tailoring in rich suiting fabrics, neo-luxe rock chick references for the new Millennium, sleek urban overcoats, savage furs, sensuous cocktail and vital evening wear is derived from inspiration as diverse as The Egtved Girl - one of the most important finds from the Danish Bronze Age - seen by Diana Vreeland in a symbiotic clash with "japonaiserie" and a healthy dose of the iconic Jørn Utzon, captivated in lush couture fabrics in Munin-black, midnight blue, oxidized silver, light taupe, mauve, D.V. red, smacking fuchsia, chartreuse, Eau de Nil and stark, optic white. Enjoy. Photography: Helle Moos
