The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2023 - Issue 33

bitecatwalk FASHION WEEK LONDON Spring/Summer 2023 MASHA POPOVA I f a collection could carry a silent verbal mes- sage, this collection was it. The utter exploding wrath, pain and stress one could feel emanating from this line-up was deafening. This was the debut collection from Masha Popova at London Fashion Week. While her talent is evident in the craftsman- ship displayed in her pieces, the wrathful tone of her work is what one walked away with - feeling angry and ready to fight for justice! Drawing on the utter chaos from the world around her, Popova drew upon her personal experience with the current atrocities and terror happening in Ukraine. Hailing from Odessa, the recent attacks from Rus- sian troops on her home have undoubtedly caused beyond-warranted pain and suffering. Quoted by Luke Leitch of Vogue in September 2022, Popova stated, “It’s got dark energy because there’s so much sh*t happening in the world generally and in my life. It's been such a stressful time that I always felt like screaming, which was the starting point for this.” Trying to find an outlet for this stress and anger, Pop- ova channelled these feelings into her designs. Featuring an overall pattern of tyre tracks to repre- sent how badly she wanted to drive away from this awful mess as fast as possible, it spiralled to portray a car spinning out and how perhaps her own emotions felt like they were spiralling out of control. A colour palette of blue shades with pops of yellow, pink, pur- ple and orange, her looks were like car crashes skil- fully sewn into wearable garments. Denim and jersey were her fabric choices because of the massive range of versatility. How she manipulated the denim was masterful. The dyeing, detailed pleating, draping, gathering, and ruching were meticulously executed. Personally, the finale vivid pink gown with the delicately embossed tyre tracks zigzagging across the colourful fabric made a dramatic statement. As a whole, I was moved by this debut collection and wished there were more pieces! I know I’m not the only one excited to see what Popova presents next season! https://masha-popova.com