The first day of London Fashion Week Men’s took us to both a wedding and a primary school – all in one show. Paria Farzaneh transformed the Central Foundation Boys School in Shoreditch into a backdrop for a traditional Iranian wedding, where the men and women were seated separately. But this blushing bride didn’t kiss a groom dressed into your average tux. Instead, he was sporting a chunky mosaic-printed anorak zipped up to the nose, with a pair of Hoka One One hiking boots on his feet.
After the ceremony followed a parade of terrifically constructed, fully waterproof outerwear made in collaboration Gore-Tex Infinium. Some came in burnt oranges, others in forest greens and muted highlighter yellows. Each were insulated using 100% recycled PET bottles courtesy of Thermore, who also sourced the nylon for the collection from recycled fishing nets. The Paria paisley print returned, moodier than before, dyed from saffron, turmeric and perforated hoods, torsos and piping on cargo trousers. “The wedding was a vessel to be able to show what the last six months have been like for me,” said the designer after the show. “Being granted the Gore-Tex licence and getting to use their fabrics in a way that they do themselves has been amazing.” Desirable on the surface whilst technically savvy in its construction, Paria Farzaneh’s clothes are designed for a consumer who is thoughtfully considering his next buy. In this collection, he’ll find plenty to choose from.
Photographs by Jason Lloyd Evans.
