Paolina Russo Debuts With Her Spring Summer 2024 Collection "Monolithic"

London-based brand Paolina Russo debuts its first runway collection, named Monolithic, during the SS24 season of Copenhagen Fashion Week.

The collection from co-creative directors Paolina Russo and Lucile Guilmard combines artisan techniques with industrialised manufacturing, bridging the gap between heritage craftsmanship and technology. The runway set design encompassed rune-carved rainbow floors, evoking the suburban nostalgia of the carpets found in the childhood home of brand’s warrior heroine protagonist, and the pastel chalk frescoes she would scrawl on the pavements outside. Standing stones - the design centre piece of the space - simultaneously recall ancient stone circles and futuristic earthship structures that have served as an inspiration for the brand.

Gradient denim, created using low water-intensity fabrics and production processes is a key feature in the Paolina Russo universe. The brand’s pastoral floral insignia is airbrushed and laser-etched onto boleros and miniskirts, jackets and baggy jeans, taking inspiration from ancient stone carvings. Bias cut dresses in printed chiffon extend the brand’s commitment to a practical, comfort-minded approach to dressing and knitted clothing - intentionally lacking hardware and made from lightweight cotton monofiber yarns. Jersey bermudas, sweatpants, hoodies and tees appear in chalky, sunbleached pastels, decorated with imprints of primordial relics as well as rainbow-hued illusion knit pullovers and semi-sheer patchwork column dresses, all bringing the Paolina Russo warrior woman’s stoic elegance to the fore.

Each piece in the collection exemplifies the brand’s desire to challenge and modernise the meaning of craftsmanship, allowing collaborative experimentation to lead innovation. The collection epitomises the ethos at Paolina Russo’s heart: the recontextualisation and celebration of yesterday’s craft practices to articulate an aesthetic anchored in tomorrow.