On February 19th, A.W.A.K.E. unveiled its Fall/Winter 2017-18 women's collection. The brand was founded in 2012 by Natalia Alaverdian. A regular in fashion snaps, many may know her as an editor rather than a designer. Born in Moscow, Russia, she has worked as fashion director for Harper's Bazaar Russia and as a freelance photographer, making her well-known in the fashion industry. Her approach to fashion from every perspective has resulted in a worldview characterized by a dark femininity. In the UK, A.W.A.K.E.'s collections are already available at luxury department store Harrods and long-established select shop Browns, and many industry insiders were spotted wearing Awake at each collection this season. While Awake draws inspiration from a variety of external sources, including history, art, film, and animals, her collections to date have been notable for their prominent incorporation of Japanese culture. This season's collection also featured a plethora of Japanese influences, including ukiyo-e prints and kimono collars incorporated into shirts and dresses. The designer cited the octopus as a source of inspiration, expressing its unique flexibility through its shapes and textures. A skirt, made of multiple layers of obi-like, long, thin fabric, resembled an octopus's legs. The pleats, created by tucking in only the outer edges, and the uniquely rounded sleeves, were a striking feature, creating a never-before-seen shape. The unusually long, deformed sleeves and the flared and rounded lengths of the bottoms transformed the silhouette into a unique one. The pattern compositions that utilized the characteristics of materials, such as a suit look made of stretch wool that blended styles from the 1960s and 1990s, and a quilted polyester outerwear, were also intriguing. The linings of shirts and coats featured bold prints that combined several ukiyo-e prints. In addition to Japanese culture, many shirts were also inspired by Mongolian traditional clothing, embodying one of the brand's core concepts: internationalism.

The finished product is feminine, but the playful and humorous stimuli add a unique character that seems to reflect her own personality. It will be interesting to see how her individuality will make its presence felt in London, a city teeming with young designers.