Experimenting with fluid fabrics and angular cut-outs, designer Tarinii Martinsen hopes the latest collection from hew namesake brand will make you "tingle" with excitement
Returning to Oslo Runway NEXT for a second season, Tarinii Martinsen has found her footing by drawing inspiration from surrealist art for her latest collection. Showcased in the gilded halls of Oslo's Grand Hotel – a location the designer considers an "interesting" backdrop to her work – Martinsen faced the challenge of creating a successful follow-up to her previous collection, a task she navigated well. "It’s a bit of a move from the previous one," she says. "I think it’s less soft, less earthy – it’s a little more aggressive, but also whimsical. I’ve been in a totally different mood while making this collection. I think it’s a little cheekier."
Not only did she face the challenge of a second installment and a shift in mood, but Martinsen also juggled what she describes as her biggest (and most beloved) challenge: her "very cute" new baby. "While she’s an excellent studio baby, I have definitely had less time with my own hands and mind," she admits. Her challenging change in circumstances isn't noticeable in the confident collection, which embraces a cooler colour palette built on deadstock fabrics like denim and corduroy (in contrast to the fuzzy knitwear of her previous work). This shift is further complemented by the use of fluid fabrics, adding some breezy lightness to the overall collection.
When creating the collection, Martinsen drew inspiration from a book called Milk of Dreams. "What caught my attention from the book was a naive idea of transformation – an idea I loved," she explains. "Maybe because it feels like it’s what the world needs the most. And maybe because I had just gone through pretty big transformative experiences in my own life," she notes, referring to the arrival of her baby.
Among the looks in the collection, there is one specific piece that Martinsen pinpoints: "I have a great little jacket with a fun collar," she says, referring to the UFO Jacket – a piece she believes everyone should have in their wardrobe. As for what drives Martinsen to keep creating? Rebellious hope. "This collection is my own little fantasy of what we could be if we stopped being cruel to each other," she says. "I would love to see different people and characters wear my designs and shape them to fit their own expression." But most of all? She hopes the collection will make you "tingle."
See all of Tarinii's looks from the brand's Oslo Runway NEXT fashion show:
