DI PETSA Celebrates the Breaking, Healing and Rebirth of the Self
Following the label's "The Moon Tastes of Wine" screening last season, which delivered an ode to earthly healing powers, DI PETSA returned to London Fashion Week with a Fall/Winter 2023 runway show exploring the constant rebirth of the earth and the self. Inspired by the Greek Myth of Persephone -- a recurrent theme in the imprint's collection and one of the most ancient coming-of-age stories -- the collection conjured a feeling of inner strength and an invitation towards a self-reflective journey.
There are very few shows that manage to offer a strong sense of healing and empowerment through garments, yet DI PETSA's ensembles continue to convey a sense of impermanence rooted in the raw beauty of life -- this is echoed in new styles of recycled leather corseted dresses that show a broken look like cracked earth. Further accentuating the natural course of day and night, the line-up descended from eclectic hues of deep reds, browns and golds into black and silver, like sunset and dawn. Of course, this is a reference to the character of PERSEPHONE, who descends into the underworld, and in that darkness, she is reborn.
And on this note, the show began to embrace the mother archetype with a mix of real pregnant women and corseted constructions of pregnancy, such as puffer jackets. Meanwhile, the signature DI PETSA's drapery and wetlook technique took over deep brown silk fabrications -- a reference to the broken terracotta sculptures of women and goddesses found in Greek archaeological sites. Furthermore, the introduction of bridal this season included dresses that both revealed and concealed the body. The label also worked with TomTex to create corsets in faux leather made out of mushroom and food waste, a symbol of respect for nature and living beings.
Elsewhere, the show was narrated by the label's founder Dimitra Petsa, who also performed a theatrical performance on a rock in the middle of the catwalk while interacting with the models. Don't miss the beautiful collection in the gallery above.
In other London Fashion Week FW23 news, Natasha Zinko Encouraged women to embrace their inner monsters.
