Click for more looks from Twain’s Twines Spring/Summer 2014.

Twain’s Twines is a design house that prides itself of the afro-centricity and creation process of the clothes.  Their clothes are often made of African mud cloth and adorned in cowrie shells or African beads.  Designer Twain Revell is proud to not only make the clothes, but teach others the process of making them.  Twain’s Twines promotes the multiple use of fabric and have figured out ways to use every inch of it. 

Tuesday was the debut of the Twain’s Twines S/S 2014 show, which showcased about 8 different looks and models that were of different sorts and sizes.  The conventional 6’2” size 0 model was not present here.  These were women of varied figures strutting down the catwalk in pret a porter or ready-to-wear looks.  One would think that with such few looks the designer would showcase show stopping looks, but this was not the true here.  The first model wore a knitted sweater and a metallic sequined skirt, which was chic and refreshing and those sort of looks graced the catwalk a few more times and on the same model.  The rest of the ensembles were antiquated in style and not cohesive with the first look. Usually designers use their lines to tell stories or express ideas, but it seems as if this designer chose to just place random looks in the same line, which did not work in her favor.  None of the models wore jewelry.  Travell’s signature mud cloth or African “inspiration,” as the show was called, was not evident. Each model looked as if she could be walking in a different show.   

The redeeming factor of this show was a gold dress that glimmered down the runway.  Even though most of the dresses in the line were short this one was ankle-length and perfectly accented with an updo and 4-inch heels. Ultimately there were a few good looks but as a whole the show really lacked the pizazz that one would expect to see during fashion week.

Rafiki Johnson is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].