LFW: Ethologie by Jasper Garvida - When Time Stands Still

Jasper Garvida’s S/S’16 collection ‘When Time Stands Still’ follows a cultured urban traveller on her journey of discovery from her native France back to her original home of Morocco; the collection is inspired by the tranquil beauty of Morocco, the landscapes, culture and the history of the beautiful country. Following in the footsteps of her ancestors the collection represents the silhouettes and architecture of Morocco throughout the shapes and the ornate patterning within the collection creating archways and the profiles of window frames which have remained the same as though time had in fact stayed still.

Set inside the beautiful, priceless Persian Carpet you are instantly drawn into the story with strong prints, earthy colours and soft music as a backdrop. The show opens with short floating dresses, beautiful prints and soft colours but quickly morphs into the Moroccan women with medallion prints, gold sequins, tassels and rich colours. Loose shirts remind us of the Parisian influence while long maxi dresses and sleeveless leather, embellished jackets bring us back to Morocco. Garvida’s trademark embellishment and delicate detail are at the heart of the collection reflecting on the heritage of the East while hand twisted chiffon and hand embroidered French lace injects some of the modernity of Parisian chic. Each piece has been beautifully designed with a strong sense of individuality through the layering and accessories. A traditional yet contemporary feel is evoked throughout the collection and the story is easily seen as the collection continues.

One highlight was a short mini dress with a strong silhouette which stood out for its collar of long pink feathers, lined with sea shells. Another favourite came towards the end, a heavily embellished gold bodice, cut low and finishing at the high leg, lined with tassels which were threaded with gold and swept the floor beautifully as the model walked. The entire collection evoked a strong desire for travel, a beautiful representation of a cultural journey and truly was an admirable collection from start to end.

Megan Sharp