Rozalb de Mura Fall 2009

Was I ever glad to find a press release for Rozalb de Mura's fall collection in my inbox this morning! It is a much needed break from the usual graphic tees and denim line press releases I get. Sometimes I wonder if most PR people even glance at my blog, because what they're pushing is so vastly different from what I like to wear/talk about. Funnily enough, the last time I was excited about a press release, it was also sent for another Romanian brand, Party Noire.

Anyways, ever since reading about Rozalb on Dazed Digital, I've been quite fascinated by designer Oláh Gyárfás and his respect for the quiet small town mountain life in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. Every time I go back home to my native city of Brasov (which has sadly only been twice since I was 5), I'm always struck by the beauty of the Transylvanian landscape. Of course, Vancouver is not unfamiliar with handsome mountain ranges, but I really admire how many Romanian cities and towns look more integrated into their environment. Sometimes it's comforting to know that there are still places in the world where man is humbled by his surroundings. But then, now that Romania is part of the EU, I'm a bit afraid it may start to lose its idiosyncratic charm as it begins to integrate it's economy with the rest of the western world. But this is another matter entirely, and there are those that would justify this growth because it would increase the living standards of the Romanian people. But I'm veering way off track now.

So this brings me back to Rozalb's almost austere fall collection, inspired by "the colours of the future", which were apparently predicted by psychologist Max Luscher in an imaginary research study. What do these colours tell you about the future? The collection to me feels a bit out of space and time, like the traditional costume of a civilization entirely different from our own "trend-crazed" one. It is more simple, almost utilitarian, but has a few distinguishing details that set personalities apart, without attempting to create needless personas and egos. To me it feels like the costume of a people that has embraced community again.

Countless times I've questioned my life choices (fashion? marketing?) as they don't exactly fit in with the values I admire (Buddhist-like non-attachment, compassion, unity). But then once in a while I become unexpectedly inspired by people like Oláh and think maybe I can use whatever skills I develop to be an agent of change of a different sort...

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