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| Photography by Magdalene Golembiewska |
The selection of VFS ‘Ones to Watch’ was
brought to a show stopping finish with Danish designer Malene Oddershede Bach’s
colour popping collection. The set of designers were always set to cause a
stir, and after clawing my way to a seat I sat back to watch the atmosphere
thicken. When let in, people literally ran for seats, filling the room so much
that they had to extend the front row for the mass of VIP’s and fashion
heavyweights. As onlookers took test shots from their cameras, you could hear
excited murmurs spread behind you as people guessed or bragged about which ‘names
to know’ they had seen. “Who’s here…” swept behind me from ear to ear like
Chinese whispers.
The moment they had waited for was here and
Malene Oddershede Bach was certainly no disappointment. Coinciding with the
launch of her own label, Malene’s collection came to the runway and
demonstrated what this talented designer was capable of. The label aims to be
defined by a focus on texture, form, layering, unusual cuts, bright colours and
leather pieces and this collection brought to life everything the designer had
promised. From the moment the music played out its up-tempo beats, the runway
was awash with sharp bold colour. Only when looking past the vivid palette of
shocking pink, cyan blue, and acid yellow could you appreciate the fabrics that
glistened with intense graphic prints, that at times appeared like snake skin. While
featuring familiar shapes like tailored suits and preppy collared shirts,
dresses were folded and manipulated to make way for the designer's inspiration
of fulfillment and the sensation of love, accounting for missing sleeves at
times and the taking away from pieces. “I like something to be not necessarily
what you thought it was." Malene told me backstage. Each colour represented
something such as the yellow being symbolic of the scales of the butterfly. Floaty
asymmetric dresses, bubble hems, knit dresses and head to toe colour suits were
elements she used to interact with the psychedelic.
Text: Samantha Farr