THE DESIRE to connect is the foundation of Robyn Lynch – the designer’s Irish roots and nostalgic love of generational dressing has sat at the forefront of each collection since her spring/summer 2020 debut under Fashion East, and her AW24 was no different.
Inside the Old Selfridges Hotel, guests entered to a projection of old home video footage of Lynch’s younger sister Adrianna, a professional Irish dancer. Exploring personal nostalgia, the menswear designer set the tone for an intimate autumn/winter 2024.
In a special collaboration with the C.P. Company, Lynch offers the world one-off pieces upcycled and reimagined from the Italian label’s archive.
The stand-out garment undoubtedly goes to C.P. Company’s iconic Goggle Jacket, rebuilt in split colours of black and beige, integrating patches of cable-knit and the Robyn Lynch logo.
The designer’s signature approach of merging traditional Irish knits with youthful sportswear shined through once again, as devoré contrasted recycled nylon, and looks ranged from layered knit zip-up cardigans to rugby tops ready for the field.
Never without play, Lynch’s neutral palette of deep browns, oat whites, and matte blacks were met with flashes of icy and bold blues, as Celtic knots and monogram embroidered dancing skirts peeked under the warm layers of winter sportswear in a nod to her sister’s stage wardrobe.
In a sentimental nod to her previous collections under the NEWGEN programme, embroidery from AW22 was transformed into diamanté-encrusted dark denim jorts, and the SS23 bodycon technical knit became a longline hoodie with an elastic toggle belt.
Though the line centred around reminiscing, there was plenty of new milestones for the label – one being officially expanding Robyn Lynch to footwear. In partnership with Italian shoemaker GEOX, each model wore trainers made from suede, leather, and manmade fabrics, sleek and breathable whether you’re hiking or clubbing.
Speaking on the footwear collaboration, Lynch said: “I knew I wanted to reference my dad’s all-time favourite shoe, the perennial GEOX Uomo Snake. After going through all the variations of the model, I decided on revisiting a style from 2005. We created three variations, each in a different combination of browns and blues, seamlessly incorporated into the silhouettes.”
Yesterday may have been Lynch’s final show as a part of the NEWGEN programme, but it is safe to say the Irish designer isn’t going anywhere – and neither are the Robyn Lynch boys.
by Madeleine Ringer