Since graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2008, London-based Mark Fast has gained a cult following for his sexy cobwebby knits. Now, those unable to plunk down serious cash for his wares — wholesale prices are up to $2,400 — can finally pour themselves into his ultrabodycon clothes. The Canadian designer is launching a lower-priced line of nylon and elastane knits, dubbed Faster, for spring.
Prices for the lineup, which includes simple form-fitting tube dresses, cropped tops and leggings, range from $25 to $400, wholesale. (Signature holes included.) “The concept here is accessibility,” remarks Fast. “These are things you can wear with the main collection, as underpinnings, or by themselves.” Curve and Seven in New York have picked up the line.
The label, meanwhile, was a no-brainer. In addition to being a play on his surname, this line is made, well, faster. “The main collection is done on domestic machines, with a person knitting one dress at a time,” he explains. “[Faster] is done with a factory in Italy.”
And while Fast admits the economy played its part in this launch, the initial inspiration was a “happy accident.” He originally intended to create tights for the goodie bags at his September runway show. “Then we made a few other samples and thought maybe someone would use them for a photo shoot,” Fast says. “But the demand [from buyers] has been great.”