The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2024 - Issue 36

bitecatwalk FASHION WEEK LONDON Autumn/Winter 2024 T erracotta soldiers were first discovered in ancient China in 1974. The first emperor of unified China, Qin Shi Huang, commissioned statues of over 8,000 soldiers, 600 horses, and 100 chariots to protect and greet him in the afterlife, most likely decorating these life-like creations with opulent hues before they were buried below the Earth. However, the reddish-brown, khaki, silver and sand colours seen on Lo’s runway represented what these statues became when they were rediscovered centuries later. German artist Gerhard Ritcher also inspired the colour palette with muted but rich natural colour imagery. Some looks highlighted the silhouettes of the soldier’s armour, decorated with Lo’s signature spikes on wool hybrid skirt trousers and thick jumpers. Others were purposefully distressed to emulate the decaying lamellar armour on the terracotta soldier’s chest like a velvet jumper with a long slash on the shoulder. Silver fabric recalled stone helmets from the Qin Shi dynasty transformed from structured spiked pieces to hanging knitwear, while Lo’s spikes drew attention to the lines of the skirts and sleeves. The collection explored the remains of the terracotta soldiers, a collaboration between the past and the present displaying Chet Lo’s unique style. www.chetlo.com CHET LO DI PETSA T he Body as Prayer is partly performance, art and design. The catwalk has always been a stage, but for Di Petsa, it became a platform where the female body can be explored in innocence and ear- nestness. Gentle draping and sheer materials exposed everything that makes the human body sacred. From a look that revealed the pregnant belly to waterfall dresses flowing in the contours of the models’ bodies as they walk, most looks created a spectacle of living deities on the runway. The ethereal looks combine intricate wire headpieces and pearl-like fixtures on the bodice to create editorial presentations of womanhood and female sexuality. While there are sporadic moments of commercial designs (often made from leather and knotted fabric), this collection was more conceptual than most. Some of the show-stopping designs not replicated for general wear, such as a bra made of pears and a sheer netted skirt, encapsulate the runway’s theme perfectly. Di Petsa worships the body, and each step walked by the model feels like an act of prayer. https://dipetsa.com