Hasta La Ideas

While much of the recent London Fashion Week lacked the edge of past seasons with designers taking the safer route by showing subdued ready-to-wear collections, Dutch-born designer Maaike Mekking seized on high drama (what some might say fashion does best) with her collection dubbed “Witch-Craft-Wo-Man-Ship.”

Channeling the spirit of cult films such as Christiane F and Bandlands, Mekking showed a collection of wearable separates reflecting her own take on the classic American biker jacket, jeans and white t-shirt. To heighten the intensity, she mixed in contrasting materials including sheepskin, corduroy, chiffon and wool—all thrown over a tribal-patterned bodysuit.

Since completing a masters in Womenswear Design at the Royal College of Art, Mekking has built up a solid platform of skills working under renowned designers such as the late Alexander McQueen, Humanoid and Alberta Ferretti. Now heading up her own eponymous label, the designer continues to captivate her audience with not only clothing, but also with an intimate range of interdisciplinary artistic collaborations involving artists Tania Leshkina, Anastasia Freygang and Joseph Xorto.

Mekkings collection showed that while the main catwalks of London’s Fashion Week may have lacked a little electricity, there is still plenty of energy left in the city for those willing to take a step in her direction.