While minimalism may be dominating the runways this New York Fashion Week, Libertine's Johnson Hartig stays true to his eccentric aesthetic that his loyal customers crave. “I'm really concentrating on what they want,” he affirmed after debuting another delightfully quirky spring collection for both men and women. “We have customers that repeat, repeat, repeat every season, so I'm providing it for them.”
Returning to the runway format after switching to lookbooks during the pandemic, a lot has changed yet Hartig's creative process remains unchanged. “My inspirations are always a jillion different things,” he explained, citing a vintage 1930s fabric book and a recent trip to Marrakech as influences behind this season's colorful collage.
The former was evident through trompe l'oeil lace and patchwork fabric swatch prints adorning rather straightforward separates. Hartig's playful eye for embellishment would serve the actual designs well.
References to Northern Africa were harder to pinpoint – one standout, a little boy's blazer embellished with rosettes and tasseled fringe over an evening dress with fluttering tiered layers, exuded more of a Southern Spanish flair. Wherever Hartig aims to transport us, it's certainly far away. “I try to get out of America as much as I can,” he remarked.
His flared trouser suits in clashing red, white and blue geometric patterns have serious stylish flight attendant uniform potential. In fact, most models were already travel-ready, carrying matching LeSportsac backpacks and weekenders from Hartig's new collaboration.
