A designer's inspiration can come from the strangest of places. Part of the job description includes being able to look at the world around you and translate what you see into clothing. Some of the best designers of the modern era have taken unexpected inspiration and translated it into truly amazing collections, reflecting what they see in our society that others haven't noticed yet.
Iris van Herpen is particularily well known for her serendipitous inspirations. Her most recent collection, Architectonics, featured the idea of bionics, looking into our future with hope and wonder. With a track record of collaborating with the newest in technology, van Herpen consistently looks at the technology of today and shows us how we can take it into tomorrow.
Another designer known for thinking beyond convention, Alexander McQueen was constantly pushing the boundaries with his ideas. Taking inspiration from the industry itself, McQueen devised his Fall 2009 satirical collection "The Horn of Plenty", playing off the self-indulgent history of haute couture. Referencing the collections of Dior with an oversaturation of houndstooth, Mcqueen created a caricature of the industry, essentially presenting the world of fashion he lived in with a mirror through which to see itself.
A well trained designer will constantly be looking for the overlaps between the many disciplines of art. Hussein Chalayan could not only see how the disciplines of interior and fashion design played off eachother, but also how they could act as storytellers. Chalayan's Fall 2000 collection completely changed the possibilities of stroytelling through fashion. Inspired by the harsh reality of refugees, this collection merged furniture with fashion to create a demonstration of the emotional experience that is being forced to displace. The show focused on the imagery of people carrying their belongings with them as they leave behind their lives.
The role of the designer in the fashion industry is often lauded as an authority on inspiration, curating their muses and developing collections. The reality is that the talent of finding inpiration where others least expect has allowed many designers to create indusrty-changing designs. Every artist, no matter their medium, can possess this talent, if only they take the time to connect with their environment.