Gènavant spring/summer 2019 collection presentation for LFW

For SS19 Gènavant surprised us with a unique and exotic display of contemporary luxury, inspired by the glamorous years of the 1940s in Shanghai. The label managed to capture a fashion metamorphosis, referring to the moment when the old World of China mixed with practices from the West, resulting in empowering female styles that left the audience in awe.

The collection was presented in an atmosphere-heavy parlour fashioned after Wong Kar Wai’s movie, In The Mood for Love. The rare Chinese antiques and artefacts played a critical role in representing the rich and lavish culture of the time, while tones of blush pink, grey and black represented modernity with nonchalance.

The mid-length slip Chinese dresses were reinvented, bearing a minimalist design and made out of silk in exquisite tones of emerald and red, elevated by iconic shoes entitled Flying Cloud, designed by Jimmy Choo. The stilettos – embedded with sapphires, diamonds, rubies and pearls – represented an ode to the Qianlong porcelain, transforming the modern shoe into a piece of art.

The shoes were a statement of the Gènavant SS19 collection as some were transformed into accessories such as rings, necklaces or pins in the shape of a stiletto, meant to complement the garments. The jewellery designer and creative director Reggie Hung – who is also Choo’s godson – explained that his pieces are designed in such a way to evoke grace and elegance while also incorporating the legacy of luxury.

Through beautiful storytelling techniques, Gènavant ensured a memorialising debut, presenting a different culture with a vibrant energy, encapsulated in luxurious materials and hues accessorised with the finest gems.

Xenia Gherzan
Photos: Huw Jenkins