MIA VESPER DEBUTS HER EPONYMOUS S/S 23 “MAGIC SHOW” COLLECTION DURING NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
For her debut presentation, Mia Vesper conjures a cine-swirl of references that elevate the flatness of daily life to filmic magic. The result is a constantly unfurling set of scenes made to be experienced by the wearer: a mix of Edwardian detail, retro colors, and folk-art imagery all filtered through a lens of futuristic dichotomy.
Through Vesper’s cinematic gaze, these references shake off their nostalgic cues and transform into a future vision: one of color and reverent hope. This debut is presented as a Magic Show. Poof.
Vesper’s combinations are delightfully kitsch close-up and breathtaking at a distance. The natural tension in the visual effect serves as a pocket for various modes and identities, a wearable place to feel truly oneself.
This collection preserves the artisan quality of Vesper’s earliest work in upcycling but now renders her level of design accessible for lovers of Made in NY fashion. The pieces are easy to wear, but impossible to look away from, a balance the designer calls “enough of too much.”
The collection is simultaneously easy and opulent, visually striking and dynamic. Shantung silk pop sets with flippy skirts feel like futuristic roller skate waitress uniforms, designed for both a practical sporty one-and-done outfit, and also sophisticated unisex recontextualization of trope-y girly style. Tapestry sets made from Uzbek velvet are their own lush universe, with both folkloric patterns and sensory rainbow un-patterns created using heritage vegetable dye technique.
The collection also includes Vesper’s classic plisse pieces; some muted, some bright, but always light catching. Almost all fabrics Vesper selects have an iridescent quality, making each piece feel directly plucked from the silver screen.
A harlequin vibe, which is a cheeky nod to her “magic show” presentation theme runs throughout, in diamond gaudets and zig zag hems.
ABOUT MIA VESPER
MIA VESPER is an independent New York City designer who introduced her eponymous label in 2019.
Her collections are textile forward and conjure a cinematic quality that pulls her process into a realm of world building. With folkloric references, lush textures, and futuristic reimaginings, Vesper’s clothes place the wearer on a pleasurable bridge between the scroll of a digital museum collection and the tapestry-hung walls of the Cloisters. Her self-trained design process does not prioritize output, but is a method for honing a distinct point-of-view. In an industry of untethered excess, Vesper’s values focus on only creating what’s incredible.
Vesper’s creative lineage has imbued her with attention to quality and a legacy of textile appreciation.
Her grandmother was Milwaukee Ballet’s costume designer and the president of her local Planned Parenthood, while her mother was a textile artist, primitive antiques dealer and wildlife rehabilitator.
Vesper grew up in rural small-town America in a family that moved frequently, but created grounding rituals through collecting and creating–from seashells and birdbaths to hand sewn wardrobes. Textures and handcraft are Vesper’s markers of home, forming the lush core from which her work emerges.
“There are many ways to interpret brand integrity and sustainability. I count my small batch, New York made operation as one proverbial tick mark, and I count my sometimes-use of vintage material as another…But at the end of the day, I believe the most incorruptible aspect of a fashion brand comes from the specialness and intentionality of the garments. I make clothes that are special to people.” – Mia Vesper
All images courtesy Mia Vesper
PR Agency RK COMMUNICATIONS