Salasai & Blak – New Zealand Fashion Week 2012
Day two of New Zealand Fashion Week held promise of Autumn/Winter darkness being filled with fabulous fashion from the designers at Salasai and Blak. I headed to the shows with optimism and intrigue about these two great New Zealand fashion labels.
Kirsha Whitcher is the designer behind Auckland based label Salasai, which launched in 2006 and has gained a reputation for being a major player in the New Zealand fashion industry. The collection shown for Autumn/Winter 13 was one inspired by the movie “Revolutionary Road” focusing on the 1950′s, way out West in the USA and the high hopes of love and unrealistic fantasies that go with them.
After a mad dash to my seat after an over running Designer Selection Show, the lights went down and the mood shifted. We were on a plain in the Mid West of America, country chic without a hint of rodeo, guys and girls having fun. Tobacco, the colour for Salasai this season mixed with aztec batik print in shirts, skirts and trousers.
With deep red leather in perfect skinny trouser form to gorgeous bags and warm textures of black leather mixed with silk crepe de chine, we were on a road trip of longing. There was a hint of yellow to resemble those hazy summer days and the collection felt fresh but sentimental in a way.
Blak – New Zealand Fashion Week
When greeted on your seat by a black rose.. you know there is going to be something special about the catwalk show. The Black Rose was the name of the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection from Blak and was an intense and mysterious affair with a musical choice that gave edgy darkness to the collection. Think Primal Scream, “Some Velvet Morning” and Nick Cave “Where the Wild Roses Grow”.
Blak brought out a collection that had both a hard and soft edge, just like your favourite box of chocolates. Mixing monochrome with carefully arranged cobalt blue (the colour du jour), burgundy, aubergine and a dash of purple leopard print.
There were layers of fabrics mixed together – lace appearing over sheers and lambskin leather with printed silks, floral print and graphic vertical lines and playful, feminine details in the collection. An inquisitive mix, almost childish attributes in a grown ups playground. I really liked this edgy fashion label and their offering for Autumn/Winter 13.
Recommended
-
La Redoute Brand AmbassadorAugust 3rd, 2014
-
#weeklylust | Not Just A LabelAugust 3rd, 2014
-
Energise your work wearJuly 23rd, 2014
-
#weeklylust |Peter Pilotto Nova GeoPrint Ponte DressJuly 12th, 2014
-
#TedBakerLIVE! | Ted Baker Live Stream AW14July 8th, 2014