The Italian luxury label, Roberto Cavalli launched its capsule collection in London, as a process of revamping its brand. The brand under the leadership of designer Fausto Puglisi launched its ‘Wild Leda’ line Held at London’s Selfridges department store.
Wild Leda Collection
Puglisi took inspiration from a 1994 print drawn by the brand’s founder Roberto Cavalli. Cavalli, in turn, was inspired by a rococo depiction of the Greek myth of Leda and the swan. Previously seen in the fashion house’s spring-summer 2023 line, the depiction, interspersed with animal prints, featured on floaty dresses.
The Greek mythological story of Leda and The Swan has been a subject of artistic and literary interpretation. And it has been expressed in different art forms like sculpture, paintings, and literature. The myth explores themes of seduction, power, and desire. Zeus, the king of the gods, uses his divine form as a swan to approach and seduce Leda. This representation underscores the idea of the manipulation of power dynamics and the vulnerability of mortals in the face of the divine.
Cavalli is known for his fearless approach to fashion, embracing bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and flamboyant silhouettes characteristic. The entities align with the dramatic nature of the myth, where divine beings clash with mortal lives. Therefore, the brand seems like the perfect fit to re-interpret this myth in a collection. The seasonal capsule takes in a broad range of products from ready-to-wear to beachwear and accessories to homewares and furniture pieces.
The Store
Selfridges’ pop-up store in London showcases the collection through fascinating window displays and a themed restaurant. Selfridges will host a four-week pop-up for the collection from June on its second floor. And to deepen the impact, the giant department store’s two main windows facing Oxford Street will showcase the Wild Leda capsule “with a fascinating, surreal installation”.
Speaking to the media, chief executive Sergio Azzolari said, “So, rather than saying okay, let’s have the ritual of September Fashion Week and all the trimmings, (we asked ourselves) how do we twist that? How do we give a better understanding of what the brand stands for? And therefore, do something that is, in a way, disruptive?”
Azzolari added, “Roberto Cavalli was always famous for, obviously, the gowns but he really created a lifestyle. So, you have your plates, you have your coffee cups, you have your shoes, you have your bag, you have everything. (We thought) let’s do something that is a bit larger and invites you to discover the world of Roberto Cavalli.”
The celebration will continue throughout the summer with pop-up shops in various locations. It will host pop-up shops at both the label’s boutiques in Milan, Rome, Miami, St Tropez, Cannes, and Porto Cervo, as well as at selected partners. This includes LuisaViaRoma in Florence, Russo in Capri, Franzese in Naples, Parisi in Taormina and Julian Fashion in Milano Marittima.