Ashley Isham, a designer recognised for his
signature draping and strong tailoring, offered up a distinctive
blend of high-octane glamour and contemporary style.
The SS15 collection was inspired by the
legendary and exotic lady - Mata Hari who is half Indonesian and half
Dutch. The concept was to create the insight from the Eastern
sensibility with a Western point of view.
Trains, liquid
jersey slits, and silk Moroccan dresses created fluidity and refinement
on the catwalk. From the beginning of the show, the models
immediately jewelled the romance with India gold embellishments with floor length gowns. On the second half of the show, he sparked the design
with floral embellishments and lace garments and added a subtly stylish element - elegant with an eloquent finishing touch. The collection
is delicately hand crafted and draped while presenting with a razor
sharp tailoring that is soft yet sophisticated.
There was however a
more contemporary twist with this season’s show. The collection was
urban and celebrates its craftsmanship with clean, crisp and modern
silhouettes. One of the highlights is the swimsuit pieces with floral
print, colourful leopard pattern with sport-wear style. The extreme
opulence of the couture silhouettes emphasised a woman’s body with
ergonomic construction including a multitude of shapes.
These are
Ashley Isham warriors fighting for a new dawn of beauty and
diversity.
By Bowen Lee, (@bowenleely).
Photos by Anai Bharucha, (@anai014).