Barbara Hulanicki for Topshop

Topshop does it again as today marked a new addition to it's spring/summer collaboration collections. Barbara Hulanicki the legendary designer of the seventies cult label, Biba, debuts her capsule collection for Topshop, which hits stores today. Following her illustration exhibition The Art of Barbara Hulanicki last march, Topshop approached her to "to do a collection that didn't look like Biba" says Hulanicki (Vogue.co.uk).
(Biba Clothing)

Biba encapsulated the look of the youth generation of the 60's and 70's. Based in London, it's signature stylings consisted of mod-con dresses, mini skirts and uni-sex t-shirts. It was a cult among teens and young adults, and allowed them to wear the latest trends from the Paris runways at affordable prices. Musicians, models and Hollywood stars alike such as Mick Jagger, Twiggy and Bridgette Bardot etc, found solace in the store's art deco, Hollywood golden age and nouveua mix of decor."Freddy Mercury lounged on it's leopard print chairs, Lou Reed wore it's black nail polish , The New York dolls played a legendary 2 night-stint in the upstairs rainbow room and David Bowie regularly took tea in its roof garden" (thebibaecxperience.com). By the Early 70's, the store had completely altered the London look, transforming the city into a fashion capital of the world. The 7-story shop sold everything from feather boas to children's clothing to pet food. But the dream was shattered when the shop closed it's doors in 1975. The label has since been relaunched by designer Bella Freud in May 2006.

While Barbara's Topshop collection differs from the designs of Biba's heyday it still manages to incorporate the boutique's quirky stylings with the use eccentric prints varying from bees, a girls face, animal spots and stars which are emblazoned on everything from shoulder padded dresses to trousers and bikinis. The line manages to maintain the Biba tradition of producing cool clothing with affordable prices, and has already been seen on the likes of Mary Kate Olsen, who was spotted in a blue star and bee spotted blouse. While the Biba of the 70's may be gone it manages to live on its modern day reincarnation, Topshop.