By: Marley Penagos By: Marley Penagos | October 31, 2023 | Style & Beauty,
The future of fashion is upon us, and it started at Los Angeles Fashion Week. Hosted by N4xt, the event welcomed designers, stylists, models and fashion lovers from all walks of life to NYA studios in the heart of Hollywood from Oct. 18 to 22 to explore fashion’s frontier.
From magic mirrors and a denim customization station to the new era of slow, sustainable fashion, LAFW ushered in an incredible set of designers and—in an effort to make fashion more inclusive—opened its doors to the public. While most of the shows were invite-only, the Creator’s Lounge and Gallery were fully open to anyone who RSVP’d.
See more: Go Behind The Scenes Of The Jean Paul Gaultier By Olivier Rousteing Fall 2022 Couture Show
The room was filled with color and texture from attendees and designers alike. Whether it was Bruceglen’s jaw-dropping rainbow ensembles or Theophilio’s artfully mixed-and-mashed patterns, L.A. Fashion Week was bustling with fabulous designs and some seriously cutting-edge activities. Here is a rundown of the non-runway innovations we loved from this year’s LAFW.
Once past the gauzy lavender curtains and the larger-than-life rotating art installation slash photo-op, Lancôme’s set-up at Fashion Week had a machine that looked like it belonged in an optometrist’s office where skin specialists told visitors exactly what their skin needs. Promoting the company's Rénergie H.P.N. 300-Peptide Cream, Lancôme’s presence at Fashion Week was larger-than-life with free samples and a long line for the 15-minute personalized consultation. Once multiple high-definition and very close-up photos had been snapped, the dermatologist had an iPad with categories and scores that helped determine exactly what steps were missing from one’s skincare regimen.
LAFW’s goal this year was to showcase the intersection of fashion and technology, and it did so by partnering with SAP, the world’s largest enterprise application provider. Together, they created a cutting-edge shopping experience for everyone. Outdoor booths were littered with fresh-off-the-runway designs available for immediate purchase, and huge, augmented reality mirrors gave guests a chance to try clothes on virtually, with select product customization options and robotics, among other things. Featured designers included Advisry, Tombogo, Kim Shui, BruceGlen and No Sesso.
In collaboration with SAP, Jeanologia hosted a pop-up with a denim customization laser. Sustainability is a core principle of the brand, and Jeanologia works with Levi’s and Uniqlo to reduce water usage when distressing or lightening denim. The LAFW pop-up allowed guests to purchase and customize their own denim pieces within minutes. Checkerboard patterns, large and small, decorated the back of denim jackets, and custom patterns appeared right before our eyes.
If you couldn’t make it to fashion week in person, don’t stress! You can still attend the virtual reality version. Complete with a playlist, the VR experience—powered by Obsess VR—allows e-patrons to enter a large brick-lined virtual warehouse, where an immersive L.A. Fashion Week store is available for browsing and shopping. The curated selection of designers includes Khiry, Homage Year and House of Aama, and features a virtual shop-in-shop devoted to the latest musings from Black Fashion Fair.
N4xt is committed to sustainability, and the group delivered on multiple fronts. Not only did N4xt partner with PATH Water, the first refillable and 100 percent recyclable bottled water, but it also featured up-and-coming designer Sami Miro, who features reworked vintage pieces and collections made with deadstock fabric at the forefront of her designs. LAFW brought together Kim Shui, Sami Miro and NoSesso’s Pia Davis and Autumn Randolph to discuss Nike’s vision for a more sustainable and equitable future for design. In the 48-minute panel, the women discussed how they push boundaries in the fashion industry with their brands, whether it be in regard to eco-consciousness or sustainability. The multiple panels and sit-down discussions with designers brought an air of humanity to L.A. Fashion Week and helped N4xt stay true to its values throughout the event.
While L.A. Fashion Week may not be as large a production as its contemporaries in New York and Paris, the week certainly stands on its feet as a breakout event. It captured the essence of Los Angeles, featuring brands steeped in Chicano culture, like Gypsy Sport and featuring sustainability at its core. Follow LAFW on Instagram to stay up to date with future events and learn more about this year's big celebration.
Photography by: Via Instagram
