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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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