Leesle presented by Global Fashion Collective, Milan Fashion Week, September 2022
GFC
Global Fashion Collective (GFC) was first seen at Milan Fashion Week this fall. Under the leadership of Jamal Abdourahman, director of Vancouver Fashion Week, the second largest fashion week in North America, GFC has quickly become one of the top showcases of new talent from around the world, with runway shows in several fashion capitals. This innovative organization is showing at New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Tokyo Fashion Week, with plans to add showcases in London and Mexico by 2023.
Ten international designers took the spotlight during an exclusive spring/summer 2023 runway presentation during Milan Fashion Week at an edgy industrial location near the Prada Foundation. Designers for this first showcase in Milan included Marisa P. Clark/Faun Studio (Canada), BlueTamburin (Korea), Leesle (Korea) and seven young talents from Mexican design school CEDIM.
BlueTamburin presented a stellar unisex collection that perfectly combined western silhouettes with eastern details. South Korean designer Bomin Kim has been in the industry for over two decades, creating fantastic, imaginative garments. This collection is inspired by seeing the constellations in the sky after attending a Catholic church service. Aiming for “zero waste clothing”, her pieces are made with naturally dyed and sustainable fabrics such as 100% silk. A standout look was a flared cream dress with a ruffled collar and balloon sleeves, and a hand-painted image of Venus from Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” on the side. This collection features 3D flowers, lace trims, mesh fabrics, and button details on garments. Another highlight was a long open coat with an oversized collar and cream-colored wide-leg trousers with a thick waistband.
Faun Studio showed “Wildflowers”, a collection inspired by flower fields and sunsets. This Calgary-based label was founded in 2017 by Marisa P. Clark, after graduating from the London College of Fashion. Her brand is feminine and playful, often with bright earth tones and cute prints. This collection was no exception, with garments in apricot orange, sage green, and pale yellow. The ready-to-wear looks include cropped polo shirts, cardigans, and maxi dresses. Clark also had three luxurious handmade crochet pieces, made with handspun and naturally dyed wool from Mexico. The final look featured a burnt orange bra and tights under a crochet wildflower dress that took 40 hours to make.
Leesle Hwang van Leesle presented a beautiful, colorful collection, rich in references to her South Korean origin. Wants to make her brand hanbok (traditional Korean dress) more wearable and contemporary. This collection is inspired by festivals and the fun atmosphere they create. Leesle’s attention to detail is evident in her impeccable blend of traditional Korean clothing elements with streetwear styling. The first look featured a cropped white shirt with distressed patchwork jeans, styled with bold green mesh gloves and bright green boots. Many garments also have brightly colored decorative tassels called “norigae,” a traditional feature of hanbok styling.
