Grace Wales Bonner just presented her SS23 collection at Italy’s Pitti Uomo. Held in Florence at the Renaissance Palace, we saw Wales Bonner’s clear command of elevated craftsmanship, combined with her deep-rooted consideration of heritage, personal narrative and culture.
Taking her designs to the next level, we saw sharply-tailored coats made with the help of Savile Row tailors, as well as extended proportions on shirts and knits. Elsewhere, Wales Bonner showed a series of black tuxedos, all made from cashmere and with various forms of metal hardware closure and detailing.
SS23 also saw the brand delve into dresses – with beaded macrame pieces forming a standout look, alongside jersey and silk constructions with stripe, panel and sheer patterning. We also saw a new product of Wales Bonner x adidas’ ongoing relationship in the form of black, white and metallic silver sneaker iterations hitting the runway.
Aside from being a visually cohesive and vastly impressive offering from Grace Wales Bonner, her collection and the fact that it was shown at Pitti demonstrates the power and popularity of Wales Bonner’s nurtured brand identity: one which prioritises community and culture over trends, and taps into social processes as well as showcasing a rich visual language.
If, at its core, fashion is about finding creative ways to visually express a narrative, movement or whatever inspiration is derived from, then Wales Bonner must be at the forefront of what fashion fundamentally is; embodying black culture on a contemporary stage and presenting it in all its authenticity, and all its beauty.
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