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Kelly Rissman
US News Reporter
Designers Vin + Omi are known for their eye-catching fashion collections, and their 20th anniversary show was no different.
The catwalk featured The Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith, who wore a particularly daring and avant-garde design.
The 84-year-old chef wore a tight black leather dress with latex evening gloves and contrasting red stitching. Her look was paired with black smoky eye makeup, a bright red lip and spiked hair. Before the show, Vin told PA Media the aim was to “sexify” her.
While the show is not on the official London Fashion Week agenda, it coincides with the city-wide style event and also featured Playboy model and American television personality Josie Stevens and property mogul Naomi Heaton.
Stevens, who is married to Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens, walked the runway three times, wearing increasingly skimpy outfits with each appearance.
The show was titled 'Moxie', meaning perseverance and courage, which is what the design duo said got them to where they are today.
Sustainability is at the heart of Vin + Omi's designs, and the catwalk featured fabrics made from nettles, chestnuts, butterbur, wild chervil, mushrooms, recycled plastic and wood shavings from the King's Sandringham estate.
“We collected discarded wood chips from the King Charles estate and inside the wood there is cellulose, which we transform into this fabric,” Vin said, explaining that this fabric is capable of biodegrading in about three years.
The design duo, nomadic but predominantly based in Norwich, have been collaborating with the King to develop sustainable fabrics since 2019.
The 20th anniversary show began with a moving reflection on war, acknowledging the horrors and injustices of global conflict.
Models wore outfits with red slashes and stains, with details resembling intestines leaking from the garments. The collection included bleached utility jumpsuits, trench coats emblazoned with anti-war slogans and dresses adorned with fish skeletons, adding to the dystopian aesthetic.
Dresses ranged from vivid browns to raw, fleshy reds, and the garments featured luxurious ruffles and feather trim spilling from the models, seeming to represent both destruction and bland opulence.
The first, heartbreaking segment ended with a couple walking together in worn black dresses that mimicked burnt remains and flecks of ash. The male model held a sign that read, “Love always wins.”
But that wasn't the end of the show: the next segment celebrated fun and freedom, with a distinctly punk sensibility.
Leather, ruffles and feathers flooded the catwalk. A flirty element was introduced in the form of Marie Antoinette-inspired hairstyles and rococo-style uniforms, highlighting that sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be boring.
Knitted ensembles mimicked coral and dresses were adorned with endangered marine life – each piece was a physical reminder of the importance of sourcing sustainable fashion.
Towards the end of the show, a standout look was a sheer black dress with a long train of iridescent ruffled roses, perhaps a nod to the King's beloved flower beds.
Despite the serious messages, the show felt like a celebration. As the models walked down the runway, they waved to “Vin and Omi,” drawing cheers from the audience.
Vin and Omi proved in their latest collection that sustainable fashion doesn't have to be sensible, with unforgettable and extravagant looks that graced the catwalk from start to finish.
