Lou Dalton’s work is consistently rooted in the close to home. Past collections have seen rugged nomads and shadows of the farmhands Dalton remembers from a rural childhood stalk the runway, made current with a utilitarian attitude and finesse for detail. SS15 sees the designer point her gaze inwards, looking to the gentler works of Robert Mapplethorpe to spark a process of total self-reflection…

Lou Dalton SS15

“Control, protection, a homecoming of sorts,” says Neale of the collection’s inspiration. “Taking a closer look at who we are, what we have become and where we are heading. Traditional sportswear turned on it’s head, pulling hard on what I’m good at, attention to detail, construction, internal observation. The work of Robert Mapplethorpe and flowers…

As most folk know I come from a very practical background, having the ability to look hard into the construction and dissect this in some way was very much the starting point. We have covered a great deal of ground in a short space of time, I wanted to reflect on this in someway with the possibility of looking back over what we have achieved and how this has shaped who we are and what we will become.

This season in particular has been about observation, taking a long hard look at who we are, a time to reflect. I have tried to pull on what I believe to be the strength and back bone of Lou Dalton, something considered and relevant.

I am always inspired by traditional sportswear, workwear, military attire, it has purpose an end use. Having longevity in a garment is far more inspiring than a piece that is here today gone tomorrow. Good design will stand the test of time and to try and create that is the challenge. Most of the men I associate myself with and who buy Lou Dalton I hope buy into something that is relevant now but has the legs to still be standing in a few seasons time.

It’s a tense time as you never quite know if you have nailed it or not, I always fear the worst!”

Lou Dalton presents her SS15 collection on Sunday 15th June. Stay tuned to HERO for full fashion week coverage, from London, Florence, Milan and Paris