Diotima Presents Her New Fall-Winter 2025 Women’s Collection: Matriarch
Luxferity, 14.02.2025
Fall 2025 is centred around this figure, the matriarch – her nuance and complexity, sensuality and intimacy. For too long her story has been reduced and flattened.
Rubis Big Bang Handbag
I’ve been thinking a lot about how the portrayal of us, as black women, needs to be readdressed. It was difficult to find images that painted a whole picture– of our lives, our interior worlds, our complexities, our knowledge, our generative creativity, and our beauty. Last November, I put out a call to my community: “I am researching images of the black women that came before us and paved the way: the auntie, the trans mothers, the grandma, the matriarch.”
Silver Coronaria Brooch Pendant With Amethyst
I could not have imagined the sheer beauty of the responses. In every photo I received I saw in their faces, demeanor and presence, the exact nuance I have been trying to materialize with Diotima. I received photos of grandmothers very late in their lives, but also in their teens, in their twenties, thirties and everything in between. Some images were current, others were from the 80’s, 70’s, 50’s and from the turn of the last century. There were family photos, but mostly the photos were of these women alone: either studio photos or on the other hand intimate snapshots of them at ease in their homes.
Space Big Bang Handbag
If home is her domain, the bedroom is her throne. Materials reminiscent of bedspreads like a quilted satin evening cape and cowl skirt and pile embroidered crinkle chiffon dresses with piano shawls are draped on the body with immediacy.
Gold Twist Ring With Chocolate Pearl & Diamonds
We see her out in the world, powerful in strong shouldered blazers with anti-epaullettes crafted with macrame and shapely waists with large trousers pleated in at the back to hold at the hip. Harris Tweed is made supple in a dress that hangs from one shoulder and the opposing waist, as well as a pinafore and fluid skirt that peel away the structure we expect of this serious wool.
Bubble Gum Big Bang Handbag
We see her in the evening in stripped down glass jersey chemise tops, embellished with black roses, and bloomers, the original feminist undergarment, fabricated in fluid wool and silk georgette. Bomber jackets are rendered in soft boiled wool knit with looped fringe collars. Signature crochet and mesh knits are reimagined in wool as well, sometimes embellished with opaque crystals. Evening suits, with oversized tuxedo stripes in mesh, are worn with Crystal Mesh capelets.
Gold Codi The Snail Ring With Diamonds
The palette is spare. Grounded in Black and Nightshade, there are moments of Pearl, Butter, Veil, Anthurium, Slate, Marine, and Iron Oxide. The humble fisherman sandal is made sexy as a stiletto mule in patent and nappa leathers. A D’orsay flat shares the same square toe. Strings of pearls are wrapped around ankles or looped around raffia and placed on one ear.
Blue Sky Big Bang Handbag
Having lived countless, often private lives, she feels misunderstood. She sees beauty in imperfections and becoming. Pin straight hair has deconstructed rollers in hairstyles by Joey George. Heightened blush on cheeks is left on otherwise bare faces, in some cases one gloss black petal shape is drawn on the eye in beauty by Kanako Takase. A single line is drawn down the center of naked nails, while others are wine stained by Naomi Yasuda.
Gold Sunflower Ring With Color Diamonds
I promise to honour the legacies of these matriarchs as best I can.
With respect and love
Rachel
Tweety Big Bang Handbag
Daktari Big Bang Handbag
Gold Open Heart Ring With Gemstones
Midnight Blue Premier Handbag
Fuschia Premier Handbag
Rose Gold Coronaria Ring w. Champagne Diamonds
