THOMAS TAIT
Winner
of the first-ever Dorchester Collection Fashion prize thanks to a host
of celebrity support, notably from Giles Deacon, Daphne Guinness and
Stephen Jones, Tate has been described by Manolo Blahnik as an
'incredible couture mind'.
Tait’s approach to tailoring seems to have struck the loudest chord. It can appear simple and minimalist while simultaneously experimenting with volume and structure, sometimes to the extreme. ‘‘I try to approach silhouette differently,’’ he says. ‘
‘I like the idea of giving something to people who go to the show or the shop,’’ he says, ‘‘people who take the time to really look at the clothes.’’
The Montreal-born Tait has yet to sell a single dress outside of private orders (some accessories are available through a project with Asos.com), but he says the prize money will enable him to begin proper production and retail sales.
One piece from his spring collection, an asymetrical shift dress slit down the side on an angle from the shoulder, is just sort of chic and put together when viewed from head-on. But upon closer examination, the neckline bows out from the upper breast, creating unexpected volume. For Tait, understanding his work means seeing from the side, seeing movement.
Born in Canada, 24-year old Thomas Tait holds the title of 'youngest graduate of Central Saint Martin's MA program'
When asked by Interview magazine how Tait would describe his design aesthetic, he responded, ' It's
constantly changing. I don't want to present something that feels too
fixated or too restrictive. I'd rather keep it open to evolve. I'm only
24 and who knows who I'll be in a few years. I want my work to progress
as naturally as my own growth.' 
Tait’s approach to tailoring seems to have struck the loudest chord. It can appear simple and minimalist while simultaneously experimenting with volume and structure, sometimes to the extreme. ‘‘I try to approach silhouette differently,’’ he says. ‘
‘I like the idea of giving something to people who go to the show or the shop,’’ he says, ‘‘people who take the time to really look at the clothes.’’
The Montreal-born Tait has yet to sell a single dress outside of private orders (some accessories are available through a project with Asos.com), but he says the prize money will enable him to begin proper production and retail sales.
One piece from his spring collection, an asymetrical shift dress slit down the side on an angle from the shoulder, is just sort of chic and put together when viewed from head-on. But upon closer examination, the neckline bows out from the upper breast, creating unexpected volume. For Tait, understanding his work means seeing from the side, seeing movement.
The bold silhouettes of Tait's collections are a key contributor to my affinity for his designs. I feel they are more expressive as clothes as they enable whoever wears them to seemingly alter their shape, despite it being a physically impossibility. Muted colour palettes accented with neons or blinding whites are also a preference of mine as they provide notoriety without blatantly demanding the full attention of viewers or distracting from the overall aesthetic.
Much like with my own selection of clothes, Tait brings androgyny season upon season by dressing the female gender in shapes deemed by society as male orientated. How he manages to maintain femininity is what strikes me most about his designs. Often utilising chiffon panels, or highlighting the legs, Tait's models appear powerful and yet still sexy, in control of their bodies and how much of it they allow you to see.
There is something almost futuristic about this Man's work, something which I cannot quite put my finger on although I may hazard a guess as to it being a case of colours and shapes. When I look at his collections, I envision the model strutting down a ramp drawn from a space shuttle. It's armour in my eyes. That's what clothes are to me; that's what fashion is about. Protection.
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