Mowalola is known for her off-beat themes and unexpected use of materials. Think: leather, PVC and non-traditional silhouettes. She has designed outfits for Skepta’s Pure Water music video and was appointed as Design Director for Yeezy Gap by Kanye West. Indeed, Ye was at this show, sat on the front row with his wife Bianca Censori. He debuted new music whilst he was at it – when we named the Beams Centre For New Culture, we really meant it.
Mowalola named her rather provocative collection – the fourth one she has produced to date – ‘Crash’, after David Cronenberg’s 1995 erotic thriller. “I watched this really f*cked up movie, Crash, and that just set the tone for how wild I could go because the movie is about fetishising car crashes,” the designer told I-D. So, little wonder we saw dirtied, raw denim and smudged trousers, lots of skin (midriff exposing tops, NSFW Tees and a new definition of the term ‘mini skirt’) and unconventional beauty.
The Beams hosted 900 guests who had been especially invited to see Mowalola’s conversation-starting collection. Space One was transformed into an industrial fashion space, with a runway that stretched the full-length of the room. The designer made full use of our blackout capabilities and innovative lighting system to create a dark and dramatic mood, which complemented the clothing and her vision. Space Two was abuzz with activity, set-up to accommodate dressing rooms and a hair and make-up hub. Out in the Courtyard, the fashion crowd gathered and mingled in anticipation, with a fully stocked bar to keep them occupied.
