NYFW: A/W2015 Charity Water Show
We attended the Charity Water show at Lincoln Center, supporting the non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. This show began with an electric violinist shredding it down the runway, accompanied by two male contemporary dancers, foreshadowing the high-energy dance breaks that would continue throughout the show. The collections shown were Quynh Paris, Ophelia Song, Daiki Shimizu, and Antti Asplund. While all were very different and eclectic, our favorite collection we saw that night was Finnish artist Annti Asplund’s collection entitled “Heterophobia.” Originally designed as a small collection for Helsinki Pride Week (and an original budget of 70 euro cents), this collection takes a stand on equality for all, regardless of appearance, opinions, gender, sexuality, etc. The collection’s symbol, a genderless version of the well-known astrological male/female gender symbols, dons the collection’s pieces, which include muscle tees, jersey dresses, underwear, mesh tops, and shorts. The most striking aspect of this collection on the runway was the black and white checkered full-face masks worn by a number of the models, replicated on the projection screens in a trippy kaleidoscope effect. Heavy techno music filled the tent, exciting the attendants of the show to where it felt like the space had been transformed into a Berlin warehouse club. Being that prior to NYFW, this collection had been showed at Berlin Fashion Week, and we definitely see these pieces becoming a staple among Berlin club-goers and trendy Brooklynites alike.
Photographs and review by Rebecca Hidalgo
