Arts Thread

Brutalist Belles In the post-war landscape of 1950s Britain, two movements stood in stark contrast yet shared a common ethos: Brutalism and the Teddy Boy subculture. Brutalist architecture, with its raw concrete facades and imposing geometric forms, rejected ornamentation in favour of function and honesty of materials. The Teddy Boys, in contrast, rebelled against austerity with exaggerated Edwardian tailoring, slicked-back hair, and a defiant attitude drawn from American rock ‘n’ roll. This collection reimagines these influences for contemporary womenswear, fusing the rigidity of Brutalism with the rebellious spirit of the Teddy Girl. Knitwear becomes the perfect medium to explore this intersection both structured and soft, architectural yet intimate. Heavy gauge knits mimic the rawness of exposed concrete, while delicate knits reference the intricate detailing found in the subculture’s tailoring. The colour palette reflects Brutalist structures; slate grey, charcoal, and oxidized metal, contrasted with sharp, unexpected jolts of powder blue, deep oxblood, and asphalt black, echoing the Teddy Boy’s rich velvets and satins.\ This collection is for the woman who embodies both resilience and subversion, standing unshaken in a world that demands conformity. Just as Brutalism found beauty in rawness and Teddy Girls claimed space in a world of sharp suits and sharper stares, this collection celebrates a defiant elegance, bold, uncompromising, and unapologetically strong.