Inspired by a girl from the city who spends her holidays at her grandmother’s house in the countryside, Alexandra Moura’s SS19 collection ‘Heirloom’ is full of childhood references. The collection reinforces the history of the designer both aesthetically and conceptually – it evokes the family holidays Alexandra took in Trás-os-Montes, near the frontier of Vila Verde da Raia. Memories of her Grandmother Amélia and Grandfather Delfim’s house can be found within details of the collection; look close and you will find the clothes worn for their village’s celebrations and the procession on a bright Sunday. Two realities of the designer’s life are joined together within her garments, the girl from the city who would feel delighted to go to the village.

Inspired by the Chinese boomtown Shenzhen, known for its transformation from a tiny fishing village into a vast technological metropolis -LUNYEE’s SS19 collection encapsulates modernity and future possibilities from a youthful perspective. Shenzhen is a place where grand ambitions can be realised so it is easy to understand why the gaze of LUNYEE is aimed forward. Within the collection, a vast range of materials from PVC to acrylic evoke a futuristic aesthetic featuring rigid sunglasses, oversized garments and hoods that envelope the wearer. Despite a sci-fi approach to streetwear, a sense of history still resonates within this youth-led collection. The shape of hats and use of nets nod to the fisherman that laid the groundwork for Shenzhen while the European street-style that has inspired China’s fashion scene can be seen through some rebellious blends, cuts and detailing, including: oversized pockets, exposed midriff and space within traditional dresses that subtly display other parts of the body.