Wandering, leaving the sea behind
To my home which everybody owns
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Massive Attack, Sly
To my home which everybody owns
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Massive Attack, Sly
Covering Fashion Week in London is expensive, even more when it's on your own
budget and the budget is traditionally low. You have to keep the schedule tight,
book flights early (nearly impossible) and book early flights (by the way, do sleep
deprivation and jetlag push dementia...?). And you need a place with stable WiFi
and the opportunity to cook, cause dining in London is bad and just
takes your money away.
budget and the budget is traditionally low. You have to keep the schedule tight,
book flights early (nearly impossible) and book early flights (by the way, do sleep
deprivation and jetlag push dementia...?). And you need a place with stable WiFi
and the opportunity to cook, cause dining in London is bad and just
takes your money away.
This time limited budget on AirBnB brought a revelation for your lucky Punk by
chance. After varying caves in Camden through the last years this time destiny
pushed me in some room with a view on the 8th floor of a 50s' High Rise in
Bethnal Green, the historic Loveless House. Don't say a word, you're wrong.
Despite being a man of moods I felt real and excellent.
London is shiny and busy in a rustic way, sometimes everyone feels like a NPC.
But this brutalist milestone of public housing, filled with real humans (not
tourists) of all possible cultural backgrounds was for the first time a place
with convincing stains that made a creature of Berlin feel like...
not home, but worthy, kind of whatever 'real' or 'honest' means.
chance. After varying caves in Camden through the last years this time destiny
pushed me in some room with a view on the 8th floor of a 50s' High Rise in
Bethnal Green, the historic Loveless House. Don't say a word, you're wrong.
Despite being a man of moods I felt real and excellent.
London is shiny and busy in a rustic way, sometimes everyone feels like a NPC.
But this brutalist milestone of public housing, filled with real humans (not
tourists) of all possible cultural backgrounds was for the first time a place
with convincing stains that made a creature of Berlin feel like...
not home, but worthy, kind of whatever 'real' or 'honest' means.
Speaking of honesty:
To be invited to the Backstage of Joshua Ewusie was special for me.
While covering so often the meandering ways of Designers by choice or fresh
from school, here is a Designer on the verge. Central Saint Martins, touched
by Chanel, Vogue laid an eye on him, maybe already more than promising.
If this sounds lucky, what makes a perfect start with a sensitive person
from White City, with a strong and meaningful cultural background?
Will it be drama or a fit?
Doing my homework two Statements hooked with me.
To be invited to the Backstage of Joshua Ewusie was special for me.
While covering so often the meandering ways of Designers by choice or fresh
from school, here is a Designer on the verge. Central Saint Martins, touched
by Chanel, Vogue laid an eye on him, maybe already more than promising.
If this sounds lucky, what makes a perfect start with a sensitive person
from White City, with a strong and meaningful cultural background?
Will it be drama or a fit?
Doing my homework two Statements hooked with me.
First is by Eileen Perrier, a Photographer with Ghanaian roots, born and
raised in London like Ewusie and named by him as an inspiration. In an
Interview with AnOther Perrier described her first visit in the native country
of her mother at the age of 19. She wanted to capture her family and friends
there and, coming from London, expected rural everyday outfits.
“As soon as they saw the lights and everything, they went into the bedroom
and got dressed up. They put on African dresses, suits, and party dresses.”
Sounded to me like the instinct for grace and style, see also Perrier's series
"Red, Gold and Green" (1997) about how this evolves in the British environment.
raised in London like Ewusie and named by him as an inspiration. In an
Interview with AnOther Perrier described her first visit in the native country
of her mother at the age of 19. She wanted to capture her family and friends
there and, coming from London, expected rural everyday outfits.
“As soon as they saw the lights and everything, they went into the bedroom
and got dressed up. They put on African dresses, suits, and party dresses.”
Sounded to me like the instinct for grace and style, see also Perrier's series
"Red, Gold and Green" (1997) about how this evolves in the British environment.
Second is something out of an interview with Joshua Ewusie in British Vogue.
In an early memory the Designer describes his mom on her way to her office job,
wearing a combination of a traditional West African piece with a a pencil skirt.
He remembers a pubertal 'feeling embarassed', but later embraced the cultural
melange that it showed off in all it's grace and glory.
The spark of a story to tell.
In an early memory the Designer describes his mom on her way to her office job,
wearing a combination of a traditional West African piece with a a pencil skirt.
He remembers a pubertal 'feeling embarassed', but later embraced the cultural
melange that it showed off in all it's grace and glory.
The spark of a story to tell.
And here is what I saw on September 22:
Ewusie's designs show off strong urban women in the tradition of the
'Working Girl'-myth. She accepts the challenge and never ignores or denies
her cultural roots. Which at this point can be enhanced to every culture
of choice. But traditional influences in the wrong hands can be a weapon
and bring ostentatious Souvenir Fashion. Not here, not at all.
'Working Girl'-myth. She accepts the challenge and never ignores or denies
her cultural roots. Which at this point can be enhanced to every culture
of choice. But traditional influences in the wrong hands can be a weapon
and bring ostentatious Souvenir Fashion. Not here, not at all.
Here it is self confident, working with materials more than with patterns.
If you think this should be obvious - it's not. This Designer feels the cool
of urban clothing under cultural influence and transports the look and
feel of traditional materials in vivo. It's the beauty of being a native
Londoner with an immanent cultural memory.
Sorry for sounding fucking academic. But I'm in awe cause this had a
flow and was cool. No overkill of pretentious pieces, instead an intimate
collection for Prêt-à-porter. And a Merch Tee that is mocking
Souvenir Fashion for fun, chapeau.
If you think this should be obvious - it's not. This Designer feels the cool
of urban clothing under cultural influence and transports the look and
feel of traditional materials in vivo. It's the beauty of being a native
Londoner with an immanent cultural memory.
Sorry for sounding fucking academic. But I'm in awe cause this had a
flow and was cool. No overkill of pretentious pieces, instead an intimate
collection for Prêt-à-porter. And a Merch Tee that is mocking
Souvenir Fashion for fun, chapeau.
Words and Photography by Peter E. Reiche 2025
(except the one by 'the unknown Ghanaian Landscape Photographer',
with all honours)
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@peterereiche
(except the one by 'the unknown Ghanaian Landscape Photographer',
with all honours)
-
@peterereiche
DesignerInsta - @e.w.usie
Shot at 180 Strand, Temple, London, September 22, 2025 by Peter E. Reiche