PRADA FALL/WINTER 2023

*New Collection
Prada's Fall/Winter 2023
Where the Surreal meets the Sublime

written John Heath

Prada's Fall/Winter 2023 women's and men's campaign pushes boundaries, exploring a world of beauty, love, and care with their latest collection inspired by the eternal metaphor of flowers, symbolizing tenderness and affection. Not just the regular old posies, but human-sized blooms reimagined to express otherworldly emotions and delicately interwoven with an exquisite line-up of global cinema stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Hunter Schafer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Letitia Wright, and Li Xian.

Li Xian for PRADA FW24

seen Willy Vanderperre
creative direction Ferdinando Verderi

Prada's rich history of relationship with cinema fuels the campaign, letting its muses' mastery of their craft inspire feelings through words, actions, and intense gazes. Flowers, depicted in this campaign as colossal participants, become more than just ageless symbols of beauty; they become silent protagonists in a series of surreal conversations, bridging the gap between the everyday and the extraordinary, and becoming tangible conduits of emotion. The narrative transcends cultures and languages as it dives deep into the visual, bringing the improbable to life.

Behind the lens, acclaimed photographer Willy Vanderperre encapsulates each of these rare moments, from the grandiose figures to the stunning, oversized blooms. Through each frame, the figures and flowers engage in visual and literal dialogues, resulting in an evocative contrast of human and natural beauty.

Adding depth to these intriguing exchanges, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham, known for his mastery in "The Hours" (1998), scripts the accompanying campaign films. As the cast converses with these unlikely floral giants, we are taken on a rollercoaster ride through a kaleidoscope of paradoxical dialogues, simultaneously odd and extraordinary.

Prada's campaign speaks in volumes about the dichotomy of the flower and humanity itself - the delicate balance of fragility and strength, the precious and the mundane, the ephemeral and eternal. Each flower becomes a reflection of the human experience - unique, expressive, and deeply intertwined with our thoughts and feelings. This emotional depth and complexity are what the brand taps into, bringing out the unexpected synergy between the human experience and floral beauty.

Kodi Smit-McPhee for PRADA FW24

Prada's FW23 collection is an externalisation of the intangible, a celebration of real emotion through seemingly unreal imagery.

The real and surreal cross paths, reminding us that there's always something extraordinary within the ordinary - if we only choose to see it.

HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE

.new collection
HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE SS24
A New Wave of Pleats

written John Heath

Echoing through the artistic haven of Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the vibrant hum of anticipation crescendoed as the unfolding revelation of HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE's Spring Summer 2024 Collection made its debut. Titled 'Everyday, One of a Kind, Now and Hereafter', the collection is an ode to the brand's roots in garment pleating, beautifully encapsulating its core ethos of innovative design.

all images (c) HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE

HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE has always carved out a unique path in the sphere of high fashion. Rejecting the ephemeral, the brand staunchly pursues a creative journey towards timeless, yet innovative designs that become inherent to daily life. This collection serves as a testament to this philosophy, presenting an array of pleated masterpieces that amalgamate simplicity with ingenious craftsmanship.

The show opened with a distinctive flourish – a large roll of pleated paper unfurling across the museum gallery. This curious object laid the groundwork for the spectacle that was about to unfold, sparking curiosity among the audience. As the pleated roll unveiled itself, an array of garments emerged, each piece a celebration of the brand's signature pleats.

Each garment breathed a life of its own – an innovative blend of simplicity and technology-infused design. From everyday outfits to one-of-a-kind pieces, the collection served as a canvas for a breathtaking spectrum of fresh, spring-inspired colors. Each piece, born from the brand's avant-garde techniques, beautifully epitomized the HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE philosophy – infusing life into each outfit, transforming the wearer into a walking masterpiece.

Following the reveal of the garments, the design team emerged on stage, dressing the models in an act that was part-performance, part-demonstration. The audience witnessed firsthand the transformation of each garment from a two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional silhouette – a stunning testament to the potential of the brand's pleating technology.

In a world filled with fleeting trends, HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE's 'Everyday, One of a Kind, Now and Hereafter' collection resonated with the timeless allure of simplicity, ingeniously merged with the prowess of technology.

The Spring Summer 2024 Collection, while rooted in the brand's origins, emerged as a groundbreaking ode to the future – capturing the very essence of the everyday, the one-of-a-kind, and everything that lies hereafter. This collection is not just a fashion statement but a poignant reminder of the brand's relentless quest for innovative beauty, a manifesto of their unique blend of art, design, and technology.