Collina Strada SS24: Revolutionizing The Fashion Industry

Images Courtesy: Cris Fargkou

Collina Strada just had their SS24 show this Friday, September 8th, for NYFW. The motto for this collection is “Soft is hard.” Eco-conscious fashion designer and founder of Collina Strada, Hillary Taymour, does an amazing job at sharing the sentiment that soft can also be strong.

The show encompasses a combination of classical meets editorial with its 44 riveting looks. In line with Strada’s signature maximalist fairytale aesthetic, these pieces were flowy, femme, and colorful. Layers really set the mood for this show, and there were a lot of fun silhouettes, including asymmetrical cuts, ruffles, and tulle, with exciting pieces mixing up long and short hemlines. 

Collina Strada has perfected their baroque style without succumbing to repetition, combining unexpected patterns and textures to forge a completely new and distinctive identity. The idea seems to be more is more. We see form-fitting corsets paired with ruched skirts, as well as brightly patterned skirts overlayed with equally vibrant pants. Some attendees say the pieces are “giving Helena Bonham Carter street style.” Others say it felt like a fashion fairytale. 

The color scheme was another remarkable part of the show. Think Easter. Staying true to its signature playful style, Collina Strada fearlessly embraced pattern mixing, contrasting shades of tart green and rosy hues with delicate neutrals. The presentation embraced a charmingly eclectic aesthetic, featuring grungy plaid boxers peeking out from beneath champagne slip dresses.

 A surplus of textures also took center stage as the collection embraced a diverse range of fabrics. We see satin dresses coexisting with ruffled skirts, lace trousers, and some contrasting pieces as well. Additionally, there were hints of a possible collaboration with Melissa Shoes, as models sported chunky slides.

American model Jazzelle Zanaughtti, also fondly known as Uglyworldwide, kicked off the show alongside a few of her fellow models, Alva Claire, Tommy Dorfman, Hari Nef, Tallulah Willis, and Aaron Rose Phillip, all adding their unique presence to the runway.

Aside from the beautiful pieces, Strada is also leading the shift toward sustainability in the industry. The show took place at Brooklyn Grange, the leading rooftop farming and intensive green roofing business in the US, and the runway itself resembled a sort of botanical garden that meets an Alice in Wonderland atmosphere. The spectacle was accompanied by classical music that emulated an ethereal ambiance for those attending. 

No look is complete without a smile. We see the models beaming from ear to ear and having fun with their walk. We further find out that this is meant to represent the naivety and ignorance about the state of the world, as we later see the normal take on their “normal” face and how they really feel inside. This symbolizes the imperative times we are going through as a people when climate change and the environmental state of the world get brought into the mix, which it should. The founder, Hillary Taymour, shares her sentiment about this in her quote, “The world is on fire, but fashion is what we know how to do,” which she told Vogue just a few days prior to the show. As the show's soundtrack played a memorable chorus, with a voice questioning, “Why are we here? The world’s on fire?" The models made their entrance with arms held stiffly by their sides and cheerful faces with forced smiles. Upon reaching the end of the runway, they finally released their façade and revealed their true exasperated expressions. 

Collina Strada's mission has always been to create a platform for climate awareness, social awareness, change, and self-expression. We see this especially in this season’s show, not only with their display of our current environmental status but also with the diversity in the models. The representation of people of all shapes, ages, abilities, genders, and body sizes made this show extremely special and one of the most diverse displays to date. We see inspiration for all people, which can be hard to find in the world of fashion, especially when it comes to NYFW. Taymour did a great job at encapsulating this very real message. She shows once again how she is revolutionizing the industry. This show leaves us with a lot of stimulating thoughts, as well as great fashion inspiration.

Strike out,

Julia Melo

Boca Raton

Julia Melo is a content writer and digital assistant for Strike Magazine Boca. Born in Brazil and on the same day as Queen B(eyoncé), this Virgo loves anything art, fashion, and nature related. In her free time you can find her either lost in a good fantasy book or hanging out with friends. You can reach her on insta @juliaamelo__ or email juliaamelo99@gmail.com