Dezeen Magazine

COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary

COS unveils fashion collection based on Bauhaus design principles

Fashion brand COS has created a 13-piece collection of clothing and accessories commemorating the Bauhaus movement and its affiliated artists and architects.

The release celebrates a century since the design school's founding in Weimar and exemplifies its enduring impact on creative disciplines today, as explored in Dezeen's Bauhaus 100 series.

COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary

Six menswear and six womenswear items as well as one accessory were picked out from the COS archives to form the brand's inaugural Archive Editions collection.

Each was originally fashioned according to Bauhaus principles, with the design team making minor tweaks to modernise the fits and cuts.

COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary

"Bauhaus as a school combines crafts and the fine arts, and the idea of creating a Gesamtkunstwerk – meaning total artwork – in which all the arts would eventually be brought together," the brand's creative director Karin Gustafsson told Dezeen.

"For COS, we have always looked to the arts for inspiration as we believe that is where trends and innovations start."

COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary

In terms of this collection, that meant taking heed of the idea that form follows function – which although widespread in design and architecture, often evades fashion.

"With our research and designs, we draw inspiration from far and wide and then seek to distil these inspirations into a modern, functional garment that is designed to last and transcend seasons," said Gustafsson.

"We incorporated rectangular and circular shapes, reminiscent of the designs often explored within the movement, and the colour palette is essential and monochrome, reminiscent of the school's building itself."

COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary

Ergonomics were a key consideration when it came to menswear, Gustafsson explained, as epitomised in the collarless wool coat: "the construction is minimalist, and the hidden functionality can be seen through the fastenings and discreet pockets, a design function often associated with Bauhaus and its artists."

For the womenswear pieces meanwhile, the designers rely heavily on sculptural folding and darting, a technique which helps flat fabric shape to the body.

"The column-like asymmetric tube dress explores functionality through the adjustable strap details," said Gustafsson. "It's an elegant silhouette reworked through classic design drawing from the original Bauhaus techniques."

COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary

The collection is the latest in a series of projects and events celebrating the Bauhaus centenary this year, with two new museums opening for the occasion – one in Dessau and one in Weimar – alongside a flurry of high-profile exhibitions including Beyond Bauhaus at the Royal Institute of British Architects.

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COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary
COS unveils Bauhaus fashion collection celebrating the school's centenary