Evoking the warm memories of summers past, London based luxury womenswear designer Riona Treacy showcased her SS20 collection reminiscing upon her childhood memories of endless days spent in the cool dampness of the lush Irish summers.

Drawing upon her fragmented memories of her granny’s rockery garden, stitching delicate, miniature dresses for the tooth fairy, suggestions to these youthful hours are pieced together though a plush colour palette of sunny yellows, dusty blues, leafy greens and delicate neutral tones, a fitting array of shades to signify the designers enchanting remembrances.

Integrating a fundamental childhood memory into the collection, Treacy draws upon the tiny handwritten business cards she crafted as a child, using yellow post it notes the cards read ‘Riona Treacy Fashion Designer’, one of which is now framed in her studio today. This element is referenced throughout the collection through unanticipated right-angle draping and unconventional tailoring allowing for a subtle insight into the glowing summer memories of the designer.

The Rhombus dress in particular strongly symbolises the yellow post it notes, using one continual piece of square fabric. The cloth is folded precisely and fused with exceptional draping across the body, forming one of the most prominent pieces of the collection, a true tribute to the established design techniques of Treacy.

This origami like aesthetic is carried throughout the collection, juxtaposing the sharp contours with soft hazy summer prints, taken from hand dyed fabrics using Shibori, a signature style for Riona Treacy.

Designed with comfort and versatility in mind, flattering silhouettes and relaxed shapes offer an understated elegance and sophistication, further enhanced by the fusion of the gentle summer memories, drawn straight from the mind of the designer and integrated within the collection.

Photographer - Sebastian Davies

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