PARIS — Inside an intimate Parisian exhibition venue, fashion enthusiasts, influencers and designers came together to see how culture and art can influence unexpected designs. 

With two distinct collections by July et Nico and Graduate Runway, one celebrating tradition and the other looking toward the future, the March 5 showcase highlighted tensions between time periods and how evolving traditions will transform fashion culture.

July et Nico

Based in Japan’s Miyazaki Prefecture, July et Nico showcased a collection with vibrant coloration, lush patterns and designs elevated with traditional structures. Reflecting a motif throughout Japanese culture and art, flowers adorned the fabric of kimonos and accessorized models’ hair.

Models were styled in light, dewy makeup with their hair in updos to spotlight patterns and forms in the pieces. Carrying an intricately woven wooden basket, one model’s outfit included a netted texture reminiscent of the accent ribbon across her chest and her headpiece.

Throughout the collection, garments demonstrated a careful attention to color. Over a creamy kimono embellished with a burnished orange leaf pattern, the addition of turquoise ribbons in a model’s hair and a similarly colored cloth in her hands created a bold yet delicate balance between complementary hues. Translucent, crepe wrist accessories further diversified the textures and opacity of the outfit.

Graduate Runway

Graduate Runway, the second showcase of the afternoon, featured 21 graduate students — each creating a piece of wearable art fit. Drawing on inspiration from everyday moments, moral concepts and memories, designers styled garments that encapsulated their personal sentiments. 

Graduate designer Saara Mehta found inspiration in synesthesia, a neurological condition in which senses meld together — for example, some people with synesthesia can see sounds while others can taste words. Showcasing the fluid nature of perception, Mehta crafted a garment with an intriguing silhouette, using bold colors and exciting textures to create a multi-sensory experience intertwining sight and touch. 

Other designers made statements that spoke to the design process itself. Tanisha Parikh’s collection illustrated the feeling of creative block and the pressure of being expected to have an endless stream of ideas. She dedicated her garment to every mind that has experienced the self-doubt associated with artistic processes.

Contact Ivy Chan, Dylan Henschen, Eleanor Jacobs and Julia Smerling at [email protected].