All beauty is best as Nature made it: ‘Belgic colour is shameful on a Roman Face.’ If some woman has stained her forehead with azure dye on that account to be desired? — Propertius, Elegies late 1st BC
BOUDICCA is an independent label founded in 1997 by design duo Zowie Broach and Brian Kirkby. Having shown in London Fashion Week since 2001, the label has relocated its fashion show to Paris Haute Couture Week in two executive years (2007 and 2008). The name ‘Boudicca’ (aka ‘Boadicea’) is taken from the name of the fiercest queen in English history. ‘Anti-mass’ being the warrior mission, BOUDICCA has been challenging the fashion market with its androgynous, elegant and uncompromised creations.
‘WODE’ is the first fragrance created by the label. Taking reference from Queen Boudicca, WODE comes in a blue tint that is the shade as painted on the Queen and her army when they fought the Romans. After the arm lost the battle, Boudicca committed suicide by taking poisonous hemlock (one of the ingredients in the fragrance). The name WODE is taken from ‘woad’, a plant extract that is used by Britons for painting tribal emblems. When exposed to the air, woad reveals a shade of blue. In the same way, ‘WODE BY BOUDICCA’ is a blue tint which turns transparent after exposed to the air. Comes in an exquisite spray can, WODE is ‘the modern war paint’. BOUDICCA has been exploring the idea of bringing the element of visibility and invisibility of WODE through garments. The 2008SS collection titled ‘Hidden Meanings’ included pieces which were invisibly printed, the print became visible when the garments were sprayed with WODE. WODE BY BOUDICCA is available at THINK SILLY STORE in Hong Kong.
Text: Carmen Lee | Translation: dilettante
Photo: Chan Kin Wai、BOUDICCA
Update: 20 Nov 2008
WODE BY BOUDICCA「Scent」(Invisible)
WODE BY BOUDICCA「Paint」(Blue)
