London-based Ahluwalia designer Priya Ahluwalia returned to the runway during London Fashion Week following several seasons of filmed presentations. A winner of the LVMH prize in 2020, Ahluwalia presented a collection inspired by the films of her childhood. Titled from “From Bollywood to Nollywood,” the collection speaks to her combined Indian and Nigerian origins. Designs in the collection reference the rich visual cultures of Indian musicals movies, known for dramatic choreography and costumes, as well as Nigerian films whose soap opera-esque story lines are underscored by chic and bold style choices.
Following up on a 2021 collection of womenswear, Ahluwalia presented a full assortment of womenswear and menswear ranging from suiting and outerwear to separates and dresses.
Weighing in our her background In an exchange British GQ, Ahluwalia said, “I’m part of a generation where there is more brown and black representation in fashion than ever before, which is amazing. We’ve got Botter, Nicholas Daley, Bianca Saunders and each of these voices is showing something entirely different.
“The beauty of that is that you can see that blackness and brownness are multidimensional, whereas previously European designers would lead you to believe that they’re one dimensional. Each season I might change what I’m inspired by, but with each collection I want people to be reminded that they should feel proud of where they’re from. Representation is key for the self-esteem of black and brown people.”
Enjoy a look at the Ahluwalia runway show below.
