Shop the interactive Alexander McQueen Fall 2017 RTW runway show as Creative Director Sarah Burton drew inspiration from the magical, ancient traditions of the southernmost county of the United Kingdom, Cornwall, home of King Arthur and the “Cloutie” Tree. Also referred to as a wishing tree, it is said that people would tie strips of rags and ribbons on a branch and make a wish.
Featuring patch and pieced work, cross-stitching and naïve embroideries of flora and fauna, the curative herbs, wild strawberries, English meadow flowers, baby deer and hares make their way across pashmina weight cashmere.
Some have tiered pleats with contrasting coloured tips while others are juxtaposed with knitted panels of gold metallic yarns as fine as angel hair.
This is followed by an embroidery inspired by old alchemy illustrations, druid symbols and Cornish wildlife rendered in black and silver beads and glass stones, and finally, a ‘Tree-of-Life’ embellished with glass beads, micro bugle beads and stones. They are all finished with fringes and loose threads with feathers or a metal charm at the end, evoking the magic and mysticism of the treasures of a pagan Wishing Tree.