CUTTING-EDGE designer Mowalola took to East London’s The Beams to host her latest collection for spring-summer 2024 titled Crash.
The venue encapsulated a suspenseful atmosphere with its industrial interiors and energetic music by Frederic Saint Parck. The show opened with supermodel Irina Shayk as an unidentifiable figure projected on a wall as if walking into a car’s headlights.
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The collection featured a variety of silhouettes from skinny low-waisted trousers to mini skirts and shorts, maxi dresses and double-trouble shirts and hoodies stitched together to create one garment worn by two.
Various recurrent pieces from Mowolola’s Darkweb AW23 made a back onto the runway this season such as the falling-skirt silhouette and the brand’s signature Bundle bag in mini, medium and large — however, this collection unveiled them with prints of camo and various flags.
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In typical Mowalola fashion, the pieces oozed an essence of seduction with their body-hugging, ultra-low-waisted designs, narrow bra tops and belted embellishments.
Reflective oversized blazers and jackets alongside the leather-like materials which fabricated mini skirts — some with prints of various countries flags— and cropped shirts to list a few, provided a contemporary flair.
Flowing silk-like halter-neck dresses came in metallic hues of silver and black with hints of red bringing together elements of refinement with an essence of newness.
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Uncoventional over-the-head zipped vests which were presented in hues of black and khaki green gave the collection an avant-garde elegance – and contrasting cropped hoodies paired with matching oversized sweatpants followed by co-ord cropped denim tops and maxi skirts felt current.
Denim played a key role this season with the material fabricating various pieces from shorts to skirts to tops and jackets. Numerous garments were given a dirty aesthetic such as denim washed with brown hues and leather-like skirts splattered with black mud-like finishings.
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The Crash collection further explored themes of bootleg graphics, a concept the brand has played with throughout its evolution, this season it appeared in reimagined oil company and sportswear brand logos amongst others.
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In emphasis on the car crash thematics British makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench prepared the models to look the part — with stitches adorning their faces and bodies, bloody noses and black eyes, the makeup artistry elevated the overall concept that the show was communicating.
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The unafraid and boundary-pushing brand did what they do best this season as they unveiled a collection that is refreshing and unique. With their cutting-edge designs and understanding of youth culture, Mowalola’s Crash SS24 made for a visionary to say the least.
by Nicole Pereira