Raquel Allegra and Assembly New York spring/summer 2017 collection presentation for NYFW

In what may well have been the most unique presentation at spring/summer 2017’s fashion week, Raquel Allegra and Assembly New York staged a basketball game with each team wearing one of the lines. Instead of professional models, the designers used the women of two New York basketball teams which showed how the garments looked on a variety of body types. Taking place in a school gym, the whole event had a wonderfully casual vibe.

Assembly New York presented a line that was casual and sporty, a collection of elevated basics. Called Energy/Work, it explored the relationship between the symbols of the sports world and how they relate to our modern lives.

Allegra presented Law of the Jungle for her spring summer 2017 line. The collection was filled with beautiful silk pieces in modern animal prints. The clothing was fluid and perfect for layering.

Speaking to the designer, Allegra said that her inspiration for the collection was Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book and its beautiful imagery. In particular she was inspired by the quote “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack” because of the collaborative way that she created her collections. 

This collaborative spirit clearly flowed into the presentation. While technically the game was a competition, there was a lot more comradery than rivalry going on at the event. It was wonderfully refreshing to see two brands work together to put on a show that played to both of their strengths. 

Maggie Gillette
Photos: Bogdan Seredyak

For further information about Raquel Allegra visit here, for Assembly New York visit here.