GLOBAL FASHION COLLECTIVE takes PARIS

27th of February 2020, Paris, France – After the massive success from New York Fashion Week, it was the turn to rock the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week with designs and new amazing fashion collections. Another prestigious and historical location, La Salle Wagram, was the perfect place for hosting the event of Global Fashion Collective, the reputable platform created by Jamal Abdourahman to identify and promote new fashion talents.

The three leading words to describe the goals Global Fashion Collective is reaching through its selected designers are strength, sustainability, and self-expression. Ever presented collection lit up the runway to everyone’s delight and pleasure to watch another fashion blast.

Opening the show was HAMON’s collection SAKKAKU, created by Japanese designer Kumiko Iwano. Established in 2018, HAMON was born out of a desire to transform Iwano’s original brand, RIPPLE, to further explore fashion’s vast possibilities in an artistic manner. The brand is known for its unconventional yet timeless pieces, playing with the functionality of clothing by mixing casual with elegance. A seemingly-casual black hoodie transforms into a chic white skirt; a pair of pants is fashioned into a cardigan; a scarf is tucked into a jacket to double as a sleeve. The collection is an interplay between fashion and the human spirit, using unconventional design to show the various functions that clothing has, such as survival, culture, social hierarchy, and self-expression.

Next, Rebeca Rebeca and Mama Jules made strong statements on the runway with their Fallout/Postpartum collection. Rebeca Herlung Høien and Julie Lie, two Norwegian designers, collaborated on these designs to comment on humanity’s impact on the climate and our children’s futures. Høien’s pieces “look through a child’s mind”, transitioning from soft playfulness to a harsh reality of plastic and waste. Polyester is also used to comment on the lack of accessibility to more affordable, sustainable textiles. Maternity and postpartum pieces by Lie use stretchable materials and versatile, breastfeeding-friendly design to emphasise comfort and confidence while combating throwaway culture. The finale gown, covered in dirty underwear, sent a final message, calling for the textile industry to clean up its act.

The third brand to showcase was ALÇA, designed by Emel, a designer of Djiboutian descent who is now based in Tokyo. R.A.W. is the brand’s runway debut, introducing the spiritual and artistic aspects of Emel’s designs. Emel calls fashion her “life saviour”, as somebody who has struggled with body image in the past. R.A.W. was designed as an homage to the artist’s trust in intuition during the creative process. The pieces reflect Emel’s intuitive design process in wide pants and long skirts, playing with volume and repetition to express complexity of identity. A simple vest has transformed into a statement piece, garnished with chains and tulle. Japanese influence is also infused into some designs, with Japanese paintings printed onto the lace, cotton, and chiffon. ALÇAunderstands the modern-day woman’s experience, complete with complex identities, diverse body types and cultural backgrounds.

Closing the show was award-winning Canadian designer Kirsten Ley with her collection Lacrima. The collectiontells a deeply personal story of loss of love and loss of self, laying these losses to rest, and finding inner strength and resilience. It employs Gothic and Victorian design elements to paint the journey of coming into womanhood and rejecting misogyny, shedding the tears of the past and moving forward. The collection features high collars and sleeve details, decorated by a palette of inky black, bone cream, dusty crimson, and rich metallics. The delicate somberness of Ley’s designs is reflected in the prints of hand-painted florals, a human skull, and vertebrae. Structurally-bound garments are juxtaposed with the softness and translucence of flowing silks. Through the deeply reflective story told by Lacrima, Kirsten Ley waves a graceful farewell to misogyny, judgment, and old conceptions of oneself.

Aoife Ireland made a bold statement as it opened the runway for Global Fashion Collective’s second show. As a luxury womenswear brand that celebrates authenticity and sustainability, Aoife Ireland strives to incorporate maximum sustainability in every garment produced. In its latest collection, bold colours create a strong sense of personal identity, encouraging the wearer to live bravely and colourfully. Structured, professional shapes take on a fun side with bows and exaggerated, ruffled sleeves, exuding the confidence of a woman who knows what she’s worth.

The following collection was Independant by Cyril Mirat, French designer and founder of MIRAT Paris. Having grown up in Toulon, and later moving to Paris for fashion studies at Esmod, Mirat fuses the edgy style of the South of France with the elegance of Paris. Mirat pays tribute to the fashion capital by naming his creations after Parisian districts, avenues, and monuments where he envisions his pieces being worn. In addition, all of the pieces were made in Paris from start to finish. Leather and metallic details are juxtaposed with delicate organza, with zippers allowing the wearer to transform these garments for both personal and professional life. The versatile silhouettes and contrasting elements of the Independant collection provide insight into the complex identities of the modern woman, empowering them to feel strong and beautiful no matter their age or size.

Mori Wang by Forone closed the show with a collection of elegant bridal couture. True to her name, which means “forest” in Japanese, Mori Wang believes that weddings should incorporate natural elements, such as flowers, water, and sky. She has incorporated these elements into her pieces through the use of mermaid-inspired silhouettes, and nature-themed embroidery, fringe, pearls, and patterns resembling fish scales. The collection utilises soft, thin lace to create a sense of easy-to-wear comfort for the bride, decorated with details and texture to add a personal touch. Wang also embellishes her gowns with a variety of crystals, including Swarovski crystals, to make use of their healing properties. Altogether, a beautiful way to end the Global Fashion Collective’s showcase at Paris Fashion Week.

Sponsors: Hair provided by BCC lead by Akemi Ichiba @bcc_akemi_ichiba #bcc #市場朱実 ; Makeup provided by Ladydonica, Bouyaalan Sonia, Pichene Jessica, BCC lead by Akemi Ichiba @ladydonica @bcc_akemi_ichiba #bcc #市場朱実 ; Nail provided by BCC lead by Akemi Ichiba @bcc_akemi_ichiba #bcc #市場朱実 Production: www.globalfashioncollective.com Photo: www.imaxtree.com