Words by Megan Ambers
THE FAN, a London-based sportswear label, have designed a variation of limited edition pieces influenced by the late singer Aaliyah. Elle Azhdari, the designer behind the label, unveil her third collection, an homage to the singer this week. Models such as Adwoa Aboah, Elsa Hosk, and Artist Theophilus London all became admirers of the brand since its launch a year ago. It was after the designer was approached to be a part of Selfridges’s Music Matters campaign, that she decided to do a tribute to the late singer.
In an interview with W magazine, the designer explains why she chose Aaliyah as the theme for her collection. “Because she is timeless. She was so authentic, and it wasn’t just evident in her music and dance routines but also in her style and the way she carried herself, “ she explained. “When we were approached by Selfridges London to create an exclusive collection for their Music Matters theme, Aaliyah instantly came to mind. Girls wanted to be her and the guys wanted to be with her. It’s pretty tough to dislike her.” This year marks the 16th anniversary of her unexpected and tragic passing, Yet the fashion style of the performer continues to be timeless. The designer revealed memories of recreating her outfits as a teen.
The 11-piece collection includes sweatshirts, hoodies, short- and long-sleeved tees, a baseball hat and a bomber jacket. Azhdari also insists that the line is unisex, something she believes Aaliyah would of approved of. “I’ve always admired that Aaliyah embraced menswear and women’s wear.” The designer recruited London DJ Siobhan Bell to model for the look book of the collection. She describes Bell as the ‘badass ’round the way London DJ‘, saying “It made sense to ask Siobhan to be the face of the Aaliyah collection because she’s heavily into music and loves to express herself through her clothing and styling.” The collection is available on October 4 exclusively at the Designer Studio in Selfridges London.
