Citrus-tinged grunge stormed down the Paris runway on Tuesday, as Swiss designers Cosima Gadient and Christa Bösch made their debut onto the official PFW schedule. Better known as Berlin-based brand, Ottolinger, fashion destruction is in the duo’s DNA — they’re renowed for slicing, shredding, and setting their clothes on fire. With burn holes and acid-wash quickly becoming the label’s signature, Ottolinger has never been a brand to play by the rules, and its SS19 display was as unruly as ever.
Spring is all about rebirth, and Ottolinger’s offerings followed suit, seeing the design duo riff and re-invent familiar styles for a new audience. Last season’s cycling short was reborn as next season’s tight fit jean-short, an ink-flecked cream silk suit became DIY cow print, and scorch holes were transformed into recessive design features. And, as un-straight-edged as ever, asymmetry ruled — with disjointed denim and rows of off-kilter seams taking centre stage.
Through a dizzying trip of mis-matched prints of mixed heritage (Hawaiian and Swiss influences were a oddly perfect pairing) Ottolinger gave us a taste of what’s to come in sunnier months. But if Ottolinger’s lime greens, lemony yellows and bleached distressing is anything to go by, Spring/Summer 2019 won’t be sweet — it’ll be acidic.
Video and stills exclusively for SLEEK by Laure Atanasyan.
