Most of the world has been in lockdown for over a month now due to the COVID-19 crisis. A moment frozen in time, when people are faced with solitude, grief or anxiety and see their daily lives shift for the better or the worse. In this time of extreme uncertainty, we can also take the time to reflect, create and enjoy the passing of these strange elastic days. We thought it would be interesting to ask artists around the globe how their creative process has changed during the quarantine and if it has been an inspiring or rather daunting experience… with a quick snapshot of themselves in lockdown. Ernest W Baker is the fusion between the European sophistication brought by Portuguese designer Ines Amorim and the rustic American style of Reid Baker, which makes for an intriguing blend of nostalgic and contemporary codes. First meeting at the Domus Academy in Milan, the pair have kept a strong connection to Italian heritage, from their first internship together with a small local designer to their vision of men sporting full suits through the streets of Milan. Constantly drawing inspiration from strong cinematic visuals, Ernest W Baker manages to create looks that convey a sense of nostalgia while revealing timeless shapes. Discover how the duo is spending its days lately.

How has your daily life changed since lockdown began?

As the « stay at home » restrictions for Covid 19 rolled out, we sent our team home, and modified our practices to limit exposure and respect social distancing. Inês and I are fortunate to live next door to our studio, so our work routine within the studio has not changed much. We are no longer traveling to our production lab, or meeting with any suppliers, however we feel grateful to be able to work in the studio designing our SS21 collection and keeping our AW20 production moving along.

Have you had to rethink the way you create?

This added time has given us the opportunity to pause and expand on our creative process. We have had much more time to spend on research and have been able to watch more films, read and listen to music. More than rethinking our way of creating, we feel it is an important time to rethink what we do with our work after it is created.

Did you realize anything in particular during this time?

One thing we realized is that the speed at which the industry demands collections causes you to make difficult decisions under intense pressure. With this additional time, we have been able to source more sustainable materials, further develop patterns, refine our collections, and reflect on these decisions. Ultimately, this improves our business, and is best for the environment and our customers.

Do you feel more inspired or paralyzed by the lockdown?

Initially, dealing with the uncertainty of the situation was very difficult, as it is almost impossible to plan ahead. As time has gone on, we have moved through different phases of acceptance and we are now focusing our energy on the things we have control over, taking it one day at a time and living in the moment. We are finding that this has been inspiring for us, as well as a valuable learning experience that we can take forward.

Have you started or returned to any activities that you do not normally have time to do?

As designers and owners of our business, we have many responsibilities and work very long hours. While we continue to work on developing our collection, some of the other demands of our business have lightened up, giving us a bit more free time. We live in a beautiful coastal village in the north of Portugal, Viana Do Castelo, and live on a farm with an endless list of projects to be done. Our new routine has been to immerse ourselves in nature on the weekends. We have found this to be very restorative and invigorating for us. We also have had more time to be able to spend remotely with our families practicing yoga and reconnecting. 
What do you think you’ll take away from this shutdown?

Having the time to watch this pandemic unfold around the world, and seeing how every single person is affected has made us realize the importance of keeping everything in perspective. We appreciate our health and want to keep that a priority in our life, which can sometimes take a back seat when dealing with the demands of our industry.

Are you worried?

It is a very uncertain time for the future of many industries, including fashion, however we are not necessarily worried. Our intention is to remain as flexible as possible, adapting as the industry shifts and demands change. Although change can be unsettling, it can also be a time of innovation and progress. At the end of the day, we can only worry about that which we have control over.

How do you see life after this crisis?

We believe in the strength of keeping our supply chain in close proximity and maintaining strong personal relationships with those individuals. This practice facilitates our sampling and production process, which in turn enhances our creative process. Supporting local tailors and handmade craft artisans will only become more important after this crisis in order to preserve their craft, which is a win-win situation for everyone.