Down To Earth

Off The Back Of Fashion’s Utilitarianism Obsession, We Look At The Suvs Designed For Form, Function And To Be Lived In

- Noelle Faulkner

IN THE 1930S, after watching a friend fumble with a clunky cigarette lighter, inventor George G Blaisdell created one of America’s most enduring icons: the Zippo. Designed to be used in a single, swift movement, the reliable, weatherproof lighter became a symbol of utility-cool – and its status as a dignified, sexy accessory endures today. (Gladly, the same can’t be said for tobacco.)

At the SS19 shows last year, utility again reigned. We saw belt bags, oversized pockets, safari suiting and durable fabrics. Our heads tilted at the thought of integrity intertwined with function. And like with the sports-luxe trend of seasons past, the auto industry was already practising its hand at modern classics with a purpose.