On the opening night of London Fashion Week, the designer Kanika Goyal presented his new collection for KGL titled “Arc Echo”. It explores fragmented memories and identity, through interweaving past and future experiences, while playing with the principle of paradox.
Arc Echo is brought to life through a visual London Fashion Week presentation. Perspex, mesh and vinyl immortalise the passage of time; showcasing the disparity between our past and future selves. Channeling perceptions within the dream realm, obscured acrylic screens fuse identities through a lineup of 16 key looks.
Tasked with exploring what it means to look at multiple versions of oneself, the collection is inspired by the transformative qualities of dreams, evoking a familiar sense of déjà vu’. Garments fuse bold design and primary colours, interweaving different facets of one’s personality to create a whole piece. Mosaic knits illustrate the complexity within our memories, bold, bright and pop-art in nature. A juxtaposition of harmony and chaos, rich inner worlds are reflected through hybrid blazers, jacquard knits and weaved denim. An ode to the designers fascination with human psychology, Arc Echo connects a disarray of thoughts and experiences through beautiful design, artistry and colour.
Innovation and collaboration is key, questioning the rigid notions of tailoring with a considered approach to materials. Fabrics honour Indian craftsmanship, uplifting local artisans in New Delhi for embroidery excellence. Surplus fabrics from mills are repurposed, uniting the old and new in a nod to Kanika’s heritage and upbringing. Jackets and trousers are weaved from thin strips of deadstock denim, dresses are patched from unused pieces. Materials honour past collections, sharing resources to reduce environmental footprint. A hero, upcycled, denim two-piece is personified by its stand-out mosaic nature. Quality belts, bags, accessories and trims are crafted in surplus leather offcuts, procured from remaining factory stock. Kanika provocatively infuses deep values of circularity, repurposing and social uplift into the creative process.
Stereotypes and perception are deconstructed with a free-spirited attitude to fit and design. Experimenting with laminated crushed leather, cracked-bonded and creased taffetas see’s a fresh take on traditional shirting. The jewel in the collection is the ‘Gurmukhi’ dress; an intricate, fully embellished, shattered design with the brand monogram presented through the sacred Gurmukhi alphabet.
