Couture & Cars 2022 Runway Report
3 min read | Runway | A.M.
Accessories designer Namiko Layden-Nakamura (center) posing with models Lydia Deloach (left) and Claire Howard (right).
Fashion District NW’s July 2022 Couture & Cars runway event featured some of the Pacific Northwest’s most accomplished fashion professionals showcasing their latest collections before a sold out audience. The evening’s festivities were held at LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma during one of the most intense heatwaves Washingtonians have experienced in recent memory.
The fashion was a mix of market segments as well as a confluence of international styles and influences. Seattle’s established bespoke houses included Lisa Marie Couture and Gustavo Apiti showcasing collections along with Oregonian bridal house Vouture by Vien To; Mexican-born eventwear duo Santiago and Alejandro; Japanese-American fine lace, jewelry and millinery design studio Namiko Abloom; Tijuana-raised dressmaker Ivan Delfin; Seattle’s mid-century glamour designer Julie Danforth; and Tri-Cities painter and upcoming streetwear designer Chance Watt. If there was a throughline connecting the collections, it would be the freedom each designer was given to create and the collective fervor with which they did.
Santiago Alejandro
Bejeweled dresses exploded with color and lace giving familiar silhouettes an organic yet otherworldly quality. Intricate details can be seen in the embroidery and appliqué whilst corseted tops and capes were embellished with influences from birds to butterflies.
Chance Watt
Cropped jackets, power shoulders, torn trousers and high-waisted skirts were adorned with vibrant hues and abstract brush strokes reflecting the intersection of the designer’s painterly and fashion aspirations. Several looks came to life with frenetic splashes, whilst others explored subtle color combinations and patterns that nearly dripped as they caressed and conformed to the body.
Ivan Delfin
Asymmetry was on display, both in form and concept, yet each look bore a consistent thread of refinement and precision. Belted dresses, bridal gowns, and jumpsuits featured a tight tertiary palette with subtle reflective textiles and sequin elements.
Vouture by Vien To
Primarily a bridal house, Vouture showcased several event and evening wear looks in addition to their wedding season offerings. Traditional satin and lace gowns were elegantly juxtaposed with vibrant colors, geometric textiles and floral additions.
Julie Danforth
Hot pink was the common thread with clear influences from the 1950s and 60s fashion era. Understated silhouettes playfully came to life with sparkling sequins, dripping satin and strong geometry for a glamorized interpretation of evening wear.
Gustavo Apiti
Both women’s and men’s suits featured several of the designer’s signature elements, including bold hues, asymmetric double-pockets, bespoke tailoring and subtle textures intended as statement wear for all occasions.
Lisa Marie Couture
&
Namiko Abloom
Debuting a collection entitled Neo Royals, designers Lisa Marie and Namiko collaborated to create a story that would capture a sense of dignity, luxury, and in their words, vibrant living. Lisa Marie reimagined the business suit as a wrap dress, sheathed the form in organic armor, and explored textures and patterns from the Baroque era to the 1920s. Namiko displayed her signature delicacy and structural integrity with jeweled creations that symmetrically framed the form whilst nearly floating upon it.
Many of the looks on display are available for purchase whilst others will arrive in the coming weeks. Follow each designer’s social accounts for their latest updates.
Editor’s note: Links provided for further reading. We do not make a commission.
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