After making their Milan debut last season, Knwls’ Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault are back on the London Fashion Week calendar. Skipping the runway, the label instead opened a pop-up for their latest collection, titled “Ballistic,” at the Painting Rooms over the weekend.
The 19th-century space — where West End backdrops were once painted — was packed with a new kind of art: plenty of clothes, parties and even a Pilates class.
“The goal was to elevate the collection,” Knowles explained. “This season, we started from historical references and silhouettes.”
Victorian-inspired styles abounded, with poufed shoulders, corsetry, and gathered busts dotting the lineup. Bonded leather and Neoprene jackets from last season were updated and feminized with puffed sleeves and a floral print.
But this is a Knwls collection, after all, which means even the demurest of references is belied by toughness. Silk slip dresses were torn up and tied back together, while a wild, dyed-tip shearing jacket was lion-like.
The brand has built up a passionate following for its sexy, structural designs, propelled by collaborations with brands including Miss Sixty. Knowles teased that they have another exciting one in the works set to launch in autumn, but couldn’t disclose who it was with.
