After winning the first FCG/Vogue Fashion Fund last year, designer Kasia Kucharska now had to put on her first runway show. The eponymous label is known for its designs made of molded latex, which is processed into a slightly elastic fabric like lace via a printing process. This novel aesthetic quickly gained attention and Kucharska's first designs were worn by talents such as Charlie XCX and Julia Fox shortly after she graduated with a degree in fashion design. At that time, she was working in individual drops and small collections. And so, the step towards her first full runway collection needed to be carefully considered. “For the first time, we took a lot of time to try things out,” said the designer after the show. “Normally, a design is drawn on the computer and then printed. But this time we started trying things out by hand. And these experiments were very inspiring and successful for us.”
In addition to the slim-fitting leggings and latex overalls Kucharska is known for, she explored the different possibilities that the material offered. For example, an old sweater was cut into squares and assembled into the shape of a dress with an argyle pattern using the latex. Everything was connected by the latex, with not a single seam holding the silhouette in shape. Beyond her wide knitting experiments and a new plastered surface structure, which she used for smaller pieces such as bralettes and caps, she concentrated on textile design. Kucharska knows latex like no other, but she can work without it, too.
“I already made a lot of cotton shirting during my studies. I was fascinated by these traditional elements of costumes and dirndls from the Alpine region where I grew up. But after my latex designs became so popular, I put this area to one side,” she explained. Now, she added, her collection feels complete, representing all facets of her creative vision. In the mix were plain-colored gathered blouses, dresses, miniskirts, and bodices whose folkloristic elements balanced out the edgy, body-hugging latex designs. Joy remains the top priority in her work: “Life is getting kind of tricky right now and I think we are responsible for what our future looks like. And for me, it’s positive. It’s cheerful, it’s colorful, and it should be fun. My fashion should help here. And it doesn’t always have to be super functional.”
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