Throughout her rise to widespread industry recognition, London-based designer Bianca Saunders has become known for her innovative blend of classic British tailoring and subtle Caribbean codes. Returning to Paris after sitting out of the AW24 season, her vision for SS25 manifested as Saunders doing what she does best.
Debuting her first-ever unisex line to an intimate audience, the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund recipient presented a 21-look collection titled The Hotel, inspired predominantly by Jamaican tourism culture. Character-driven, the offering imagined what holiday-goers might wear on their trips to the island, bouncing off of images produced by American photojournalist Bradley Smith and the local Jamaican community.
Uniforms you might find on the backs of hotel staff were reimagined with the Caribbean sun in mind and edited into cropped shapes using lightweight fabrics. Crocheted hats, tops and dresses distinctly emulated coverups that one might don when moseying down to the beach. Emblazoned baseball caps and short shorts inspired by local school uniforms offered onlookers fresh ideas of what to wear when bathing in the beating heat. Sequinned trousers, tops and tracksuit bottoms were designed to represent a clear night sky uninhibited by city-bound pollution, and denim sets were tucked into knee-high boots in a nod to Jamaica’s fishing culture. Offering up an eclectic colour palette of yellows, blues, khakis, purples and more, it was a feast for the eyes guests didn’t want to stop eating.
Photography courtesy of Bianca Saunders.
