IN times like ours where we witness extreme and rapid changes almost ceaselessly, sometimes what keeps us grounded is our roots. For their Pre-Spring 2019 collection, Portuguese label Marques’ Almeida takes a step back, returning to their very beginnings.
The influence of their Portuguese heritage was palpable. Numerous ensembles were inspired by Fado, a music genre that originated in the 1820s in Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon: red, white and black outfits featuring draped tiers and moving tassels commandeered the runway, alongside white-and-blue florals reminiscent of Portuguese ceramics.
Interwoven with this homage to Portugal was also, unsurprisingly, a celebration of London and its punk and street culture: think classic shirting, oversized hoodies, thigh-high punk boots. As a brand that was founded in the British capital and has made a home at London Fashion Week, it’s no surprise that the leather moto jackets and frayed denim jeans (also a Marques’ Almeida signature, and what the brand has become famous for) have made their way into the collection.
What is perhaps most interesting about collection is its circumstances: the typically London-based brand has uprooted and moved to Paris for this season, and has eschewed the typical buying cycle for a see-now-buy-now model. The collection, which is now available for purchase, is an attempt at interrogating the status quo of the industry and testing the waters to find what works best for the brand’s future. It also signals a shift towards greater intimacy with end consumer, the M’A girl.
Although these upheavals are probably daunting for the still-young brand, a consolidated and coherent collection such as this proves that going back to the beginning can only make Marques’ Almeida stronger than ever.
by Kay Leong
Marques’s Almeida Pre Spring 2019 is available to shop now on their website and at Matches Fashion.
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