September 25, 2024 |
There is an elephant in the room. Fashion’s lack of size-inclusivity remains prevalent, with slimmer models still being the standard across catwalks, campaigns and beyond. Bigger bodies are scarcely seen. And so, as the premise of its SS25 offering, Ester Manas declared that this issue can no longer be ignored, calling for an immediate fashion reform, where every body is seen as runway ready.
At the show, aptly titled The Elephant In The Room, models came in all shapes and sizes, emerging from the underbelly of a gargantuan blow-up elephant and clutching tiered tutu bags in their hands. The first ensemble out, a black, long-sleeved T-shirt that cascaded with asymmetric ruffles into a dress, was plastered with a cartoon elephant, positioning the theme of the range front and centre. Following this closely with sensual swaths of chiffon, tulle, lace and exuberant smocking, designers Ester Manas and Balthazar Delepierre’s goal was to “set bodies free”. The results were joyously liberated. You could feel it.
Paired with the diaphanous dresses and flesh-baring floral separates that came stomping down the runway, lovely lingerie additions were created in collaboration with Chantelle X. This included skimpy, triangle bralettes with geometric cutouts and simple, cheeky knickers.
Brightly-coloured tights mirrored the abundant textures of ready-to-wear, as did trompe-l’œil prints, subverting the tactility of the ruched materials into two-dimensional embellishments. By a similar principle, leather jackets and trench coats were embossed in a way that intentionally looked creased.
As it continues to lay the foundations for a more diverse, fashion future, one thing is clear: Ester Manas is for everyone.
Photography courtesy of Ester Manas.
