Burberry’s stunning SS21 show, titled In Bloom, was live streamed via Twitch today (17 September).
The witchy, cultish performance featured a pre-show conversation between Erykah Badu, Rosalía, Steve Lacy and Bella Hadid. Towards the end of the roundtable discussion, Erykah Badu asked how each person would describe Riccardo Tisci’s version of the Burberry look, to which Hadid replied, “Classic”.
Tisci’s SS21 collection was a collaboration with Anne Imhof, who’s known for her work with performance and installations. Together, the two focused on presenting the collection as a performance, themed around the freedom of expression. The show took place in a ring-fenced space in a wooded area. Models lined the fence, dressed in thigh high boots, trench coats, striped jumpers and silver, shimmering dresses. The colour palette ranged from mariner orange to the classic Burberry beige and blue.
Encircled by the models were dancers dressed in all-white ensembles. Choreography featured dancers paired up, moving in synchronised steps, or carried by each other. A dramatic soundtrack was performed by Eliza Douglas.
On the performance, Tisci said, “It began with a thought of British summertime; embracing the elements with a trench coat on the beach mixing with the sand and the water. I envisioned the people of this space, like the lighthouse keeper, and a love affair between a mermaid and a shark, set against the ocean, then brought to land.”
“The circle is hugely symbolic – regrowth, re newal, the circle of life. The collection is called In Bloom because I was thinking about regeneration, about dynamic youth, about nature constantly recreating itself, always growing and evolving, always alive. Water is a symbol of that also – of newness, freshness and cleansing. And through water, life grows – water is what allows nature to bloom. Everything is circular.”
You can stream the show via Burberry’s Twitch channel now.