After seasons of holding the Palm Angels runway in Milan, founder Francesco Ragazzi goes stateside to debut the brand’s Fall and Winter collection for 2019. The Italian designer set up the catwalk on the Cedar Lake event space in West Chelsea, transforming the venue into a nightclub made a tad classier with four Greco-Roman sculptures cased inside glass cubes. This parallels with the parade of articles on the fashion show: clicking with raver’s hearts but having a sleeker, cleaner, and sophisticated form than before.
Marilyn Manson’s The Dope Show blasted through the sound system, officially opening the catwalk. Soon came out models clad in garments from the collection that Ragazzi called autobiographical, which to him is inspired by sportswear. There are utilitarian garments based off on fishing and hunting gear, as well as military garb, made even edgier by blings. This was true for both men and women’s clothing that were also infused with athletic elements.
The colors weren’t muted, despite what technical clothing may initially imply; tie-dyed shirts made more than a single appearance on the catwalk, and so did other elaborate prints. The fun does not stop there because there was also a display of edgy graphics, such as bears sans their heads and aliens that seems very much in theme with the vibe of the show. Social media played a part in the Ragazzi’s choices, hence the “Sensitive Content” warning on some the clothes.
The collection was proof of the Italian designer’s versatility as the array of clothes was a combination of both the casual and the classy. Previously praised for his sports-inspired and street-appropriate creations. Ragazzi felt that Palm Angels, which launched its first collection and hosted a runway show in 2015 a year after a hyped coffee table book of the same name was released, had to grow as a brand. What was witnessed on the catwalk is the Moncler art director’s attempt at going forward, which still felt in brand while also being slightly refined.
Ragazzi’s intention to elevate his label is also the reason for moving the fashion show to New York from Milan. In doing so, he wanted to leave some elements behind and bring the previously unseen in the American fashion capital. Speaking to the Associated Press, the designer said that he sees the step as a new challenge, “I always start with a new challenge, and definitely New York is a great energy. I’m trying to bring my own vision here, just trying to tell my story.” And surely, there were more than enough people eager to see what Ragazzi has on offer. Besides having celebrity guests Vic Mensa, French Montana and Gunna, heaps of people lined up to get first glimpses of just the type of clothing rappers such as the ones mentioned tend to cop.
Image credits: Mich Cardin
