Selam Fessahaye FW23 Told a Modern Tale of Nobility
Inspired by every stage of Cinderella’s enchanting story.
Eritrean-Swedish designer Selam Fessahaye was the second on Zalando’s list of emerging talent as a finalist for the retailer’s sustainability awards. While STAMM listened to its inner monologue, Fessahaye envisioned an enchanting universe by redefining the story of Cinderella on her own terms.
For Fall/Winter 2023, Selam Fessahaye was allowed to stage her own runway show that tapped into the complexity of everyday life while reimagining royal attire through an inclusive lens. Billowing constructions were a common theme across the collection, channeling dated motifs that told a tale. The showcase began with illustrative coats covered in vibrant sequins while puffed blazers turned into dresses dominated by gilded embroidery with a noble feeling. Mismatched pairings were slashed at the waist and accented with floral panels and glittered spiral illustrations that decorated menswear front and center.
Every garment strolled into its own zoological garden as deconstructed shirting saw semi-translucent hippopotamus prints alongside cutout blazers that showed the animal peeking through terrestrial waters. Formalwear was fashioned with herds of Zebras alongside unfinished ensembles adorned with radiant hummingbirds.
Elsewhere, Selam Fessahaye was sent into inhabitable wastelands as adventure-ready uniforms were reimagined as slouchy suiting with ruffled trimmings, metallic camel pins, and matching headscarves. Further monarchal inspirations came in the form of evening attire with exaggerated shoulders, ultra-baggy variations, and others that boasted dated map prints as if the world was being discovered for the first time again.
Take a closer look at Selam Fessahaye’s FW23 collection in the gallery above.
In other fashion news, P.L.N enters a gothic apocalypse for FW23.
