Inspired by the warmth, vibrancy and charm of Collioure on the French Côte Vermeille, I set about creating a catwalk collection that would encapsulate the essence of this quaint, Mediterranean fishing port that stimulated Matisse and Derain in the summer of 1905, leading to the birth of Fauvism. Indeed, as I progressed with my research, my journey through the narrow streets of Collioure - dotted with colourful houses and punctuated with vistas of the glistening sea - led me to explore the Fauvist works of the two painters as a possible theme for the collection. In the end, it was the saturated colours, wild brushstrokes and curved lines of Matisse’s Le Bonheur de Vivre that captured my imagination and provided the stimulus for the final designs. I explored this theme extensively, looking to find ways to successfully recreate the raw energy and emotionalism that Matisse injected into this composition. I experimented with exposed hems, unconventional fastenings and an emotive use of colour (to name but a few) in an attempt to replicate the effect I felt upon viewing the painting. The fabric prints in the featured designs are abstractions of the shapes and colours used by Matisse, and the curved lines of the garments replicate those that can be seen in Le Bonheur de Vivre.