Niels Peeraer Luxury Leather Goods - the Lotus and the Snake, the Curse of the White Fox AW12

GoSee presents Niels Peeraer’s Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, poetically titled ‘the Lotus and the Snake, the Curse of the White Fox’. Such a vivid title for a collection has to stem from a great imagination of course and Niels certainly has a wonderfully beautiful mind. Not only in terms of the filigree ornate pieces he crafts from a material as sturdy and traditionally tough and masculine as leather, but also in the wonderful story the collection is based on.

As the title hints at, the collection is indeed inspired by the stuff of classic children’s books and tells the tale of a girl and a boy trying to protect their family crest and traditions.

And yes, GoSee loves the little hidden triangular reference to the Eye of Providence, which adds a wonderful secret society touch in brass fittings to the nude leather.

All accessories are carefully handcrafted out of vegetable tanned bridle leather. The brass fittings provide an eye-catching contrast to the natural beauty and strength of the leather. A harnessing or ownership of something wild and natural, with clear references to the bridle wear that tames and domesticates horses. Or perhaps even the accomplishment of mastering the tricky yoga positions these names could also allude to. Just as this ancient art can be appear natural and unnatural at the same time, the tan leather is likewise plied into intricate shapes inspired by nature. Indeed, Niels’ work surpasses the traditional constrains of menswear and womenswear.

Niels (*Antwerp, Belgium, in 1989) studied Fashion at the Royal Academy Of Fine Arts Antwerp and graduated with a Masters in 2011. His talent was recognised from an early stage and his bachelor collection ‘KIZOKUSYAKAI NO DOREI, GEISHA N°58-65’ won the innovation award from Anne Chapelle (leading women behind Ann Demeulemeester and Haider Ackerman).

His Master collection 'guess technology isn't ready for pancake teleportation' also won 5 awards, which included a limited edition handbag collaboration with Brussels-based luxury fine goods leather company Delavux; a personal gallery exhibition at MOMU (fashionmuseum, Antwerp) FFI movex AWARD for leather usage and the RA AWARD (included showroom in Paris SS 2012).

After graduating Niels moved to Paris and pursued his passion for leather craftsmanship in the metropolis that is home to some of the most illustrious names in the luxury leather industry. He founded his own label in 2012 and his work has been catching the eye of many a fashion editor ever since, thanks to the photographic and cinematic potential of his pieces.

GoSee is showing ODDA magazine’s magical and mysterious PEPLUM video that accompanies a haute couture story of the same title in the 2nd issue and makes fantastical use of pieces from the Lotus and the Snake, the Curse of the White Fox collection. Photographer Nil Hoppenhot shot the video.

We have also attached a selection of images from the A/W 2012 look book, as modelled by Shoko Yamashita and photographed by Wenn-Kee Hsu. Dirk Alexander photographed his earlier ‘Guess technology isn’t ready for pancake teleportation’ MA collection, which Niels tells us is ‘about a boy who has an imaginary boyfriend but still prepares everyday to get married to his love’. There is also a particularly stunning photo shoot by Lalo Gonzalez, featruring the S/S 2011 collection, which was published in Knack Weekend magazine (BE).


For stockists and more go to:
http://www.nielspeeraer.com/