Film stills by Laure Atanasyan.
Speaking about their SS19 show in 2018, Swiss design duo Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient of Berlin brand Ottolinger said, “We explore [stories] with fabrics, building characters in our own world. We’re building a new fantasy story with [its own] society.” It’s a sentiment that permeates the pair’s collections, which strike a rare balance between being utterly imaginative all the while possessing a cool, street-style wearability. In amongst the slouchy knits and sexy, slinky trousers, Bösch and Gadient weave magic—be it through inventive textures, lively details or their otherworldly approach to accessorising.
All of this was glimpsed in the duo’s AW20 show in Paris yesterday—shot exclusively for SLEEK by Laure Atanasyan. In comparison to earlier seasons where stringy crop tops, cuts outs and teeny party dresses dominated, their latest offering takes a more mature approach with broad-shouldered tailoring, shimmering blouses and skirt suits, vegan shearling aviator-style jackets, cable knits and edgy evening dresses. Their dedication, however, to world-building persists in this collection: these are looks that ripple with an easy familiarity and a beguiling strangeness at the same time. The nymph-ish club kid looks have made way for grown-up ensembles, the stand-out of which was a glinting amber and moss satin suit, buttoned high and paired with chandelier earrings and open-toe sandals. The real magic continues in the oozy glamour of the accessories, rubber-dipped and just ready to be worn.
See the backstage video below: