Tata Naka collection presentation for LFW S/S 2016

The invitation gave a precursor to a South American influence over the Tata Naka Spring/Summer 2016 collection, with golden suns on red silks, swimwear in screen-printed earth tones and natural influences shown in pineapples, leaf, twig, star and moon prints.  Renowned as one of Mexico’s most famous artists (and for his tempestuous marriage to Frida Kahlo) Diego Rivera, provided the key motifs of the collection, taken from one of his most famous paintings ‘Calla Lillies’.

 

White full-length cotton dresses with leaf embroidery appliqued onto sleeves (at straps and waist), brushed denim-coloured silk boy shorts with strips flapping down at the knees, ties on cut-off palazzo trousers, pleats and darts on trousers and midriff skimming race tops and full-length petticoat style skirts with frilled hems in red sun prints echoed the relaxed lazy haze of a Mexican summer.

Writer Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s idea of the South American dictator in The Autumn of the Patriarch was evident in Tata Naka’s colour palette, shapes and prints, with military medals on earthy blues, swimsuits in rust orange and tan brown, ivory blouses, golden yellows and leafy Columbian greens.  Flat sandals were worn in traditional brown, with some pairs featuring clusters of beaded green flowers echoing this walk through a South American landscape.  Margaritas were on tap and a fruit bowl featuring bountiful pineapples, lemons and pears further emphasised the Mexicana theme to guests.

Upon graduating from prestigious London design school Central Saint Martins, twin sisters Tamara and Natasha (or Tata and Naka for short), won the British Fashion Council New Generation Awards three times in a row.  This immediately propelled the designers, originally hailing from Georgia, as firm favourites at London Fashion week and globally with Barneys in New York dedicating a wall to their graduation collection.

With celebrity fans such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Cameron Diaz, and 15 years after graduating it is clear to see why this feminine and flattering brand is as convincing and brilliant as ever – viva la Mexicana!

Victoria Geaney
Photos: Krish Nagari