A Fashion Designer and Joshua Tree

I was hooked the second I read Maya Singer's review of Jeremy Laing's Spring Summer 2012 runway show.  She writes that a trip to Joshua Tree National Park inspired his entire collection.  Since Joshua Tree is one of my absolute favorite parks in California.  I immediately clicked on the slide show at Style.com.  I have been clicking on it every day since!  The colors of the clothes reflect the massive boulders in the park and the prints pick up the pattern of the cactus.  She writes that the fabrics were cracked, mud-dyed, hammered, washed and worked to give them a sun-aged effect.  Wow! 

Joshua Tree is a rock climber's Eden.  The geologic landscape was born more than 100 million years ago when molten liquid oozed upward and cooled forming these massive granite boulders.  Flash flooding washed away the dirt on the surface, exposing the rocks, which now seem to be stacked one upon the other.  This part of the Mojave Desert is truly otherwordly.  Laing was struck by "the beauty of decay."

The Joshua tree is a member of the agave family.  It is a twisty, spiky creature whose clusters of white and green flowers after the Spring rains are beautiful to behold.  The tree is very important to the ecosystem here, providing habitat for birds, mammals, insects and lizards.  Spring is definitely the time to visit the park.  Wild flowers carpet the flatlands between the rocky areas.  Bravo, Jeremy Laing, for immortalizing the beauty of this incredible place.  Mimi and I will await your collection next Spring with great anticipation!