COS announces a limited-edition capsule collection inspired by the work of Californian photographer Chris Perani. Based in San Rafael, California, Perani grew up surrounded by forests and dense marshlands and found himself captivated by the layers of the often-unseen beauty he experienced. Gravitating towards photography, he sought to recreate those moments by experimenting with techniques in macro photography.
The 24-piece collection draws inspiration from a shared interest in nature in the form of Perani’s photographs of the unseen intricacies found in organic structures such as the texture of minerals and the multi-coloured, iridescent scales of the butterfly wing. To achieve this level of precision, Perani focuses on a specific area and utilises a lens from a microscope to create an extremely shallow depth of field. This unique process yields 350 exposures, each capturing a sliver in focus. In total this accounts for 2,100 separate exposures which are then meticulously composited, resulting in a single image.
Perani’s intricate imagery comes to life in a series of prints and across a variety of tactile materials including a classic white shirt that features a statement beaded applique of the wing. Revisiting wardrobe staples, an elegant long-sleeved dress, crafted in double-faced wool knit, is reimagined as a statement piece. Deep, rich colours, reminiscent of Perani’s work, are brought to life through digital prints applied to both sides of the fabric, creating a heavy weight yet fluid silhouette that mimics the movements of nature. Denim separates are artfully combined to form striking matching sets, adorned with a subtle jacquard pattern that evokes the delicate beauty of a butterfly.
