For his Fall/Winter 2024 runway collection, designer Rami Al Ali drew inspiration from the enchanting Mirror of Matsuyama, a fabled artifact believed to reveal one’s true essence. Paying homage to the enduring allure of Japanese culture & nature, the designer crafted an alluring story for the audience who was treated to his 31 look collection.
There was an air of architecture reminiscent of a Frank Gehry whimsical confection that permeated the collection that played a stark contrast to the organic shapes of the stated traditional Japanese art form. The tension between the organic & the modern, sculptural angles was a play throughout this whimsical collection. Many of the pieces seemed out of place in a way, as they were more akin to the level of creative mastery that is more commonly found on the runways of the Haute Couture. Yet, these pieces will be enjoyed by a far wider audience than that of fashion’s highest strata that is so limited in audience that few ever get to be seen beyond the interior ballrooms of the palace or private residences of the globe’s wealthiest patrons.
Lucky for fashion, as these pieces deserve to be worn & enjoyed by many. The collection was confected in fabrics that were as modern as the designs themselves. Fabrics in the range included Piques, Crepes, Mikados, & Tulles of every sort, each utilized to evoke the feeling of the Mirror of Matsuyama. Various adorning techniques were utilized to create further interest, like origami-inspired drapery, bows, & intricately crafted embroidery using sequins, malla crystals, cutdana, & various laser-cut materials. The resultant effect offered depth of story to each creation that went well beyond the surface fabric & evoked the feeling that these garments had layers… layers of design, layers of fabrication, & layers of story to be shared.
The color story, which at first appeared to be dusty in tone, was more nuanced the more one looked with colors like Vanilla, Lemonade, Cameo Pink, Ibis Rose, Valiant Poppy, Blazing Orange, Fire Red, & Jet Black blended together to the delight of the observers.
While this collection is not commonly found on these shores, serious fashion followers would be wise to seek out & follow this label as Rami Al Ali is a collection that not only deserves to be followed, it deserves to be worn. This is a label that we predict is has wonderful potential in the coming seasons!
To discover further information about Rami Al Ali, you can follow the fashion house on Instagram.
