April 16, 2021 |
Change is good, but evolution is better. AW21 marks a new era for Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault. The co-designers are changing the name of their Charlotte Knowles label to KNWLS. The re-brand marks what they both describe as, “a new chapter for us, and reflects our vision of growing the label into a luxury house in the coming years.”
After becoming fixtures in the wardrobes of Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber and Hunter Schafer, they’re in expansion mode, taking on new team members and pushing into new categories with the aim of building on their global success so far and creating a comprehensive KNWLS wardrobe.
They marked the change with a collection video by Paris-based image-maker Arnaud Lajeunie. Knowles and Arsenault are clearly cat people. Their clothes have a supple, feline quality and their woman is unsentimental and self-possessed. The designers called the collection Feral and talked of wanting to create a “Wild elegance” with their animal prints and long and lean body-con shapes.
The cuts are as inventive as ever. Their new halter-strap neckline created a fresh frame for familiar erogenous zones. The way KNWLS slices and stretches fabric over the body forces a double-take. This is the label to watch.
Photography by Arnaud Lajeunie.
