SITUATIONIST’s SS24 Collection: A Bold Statement Against Oppressive Forces
by Adriano Batista
Georgian fashion label SITUATIONIST, left an indelible mark on the latest edition of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi with a collection that transcended mere fashion. Their showcase was a brilliant convergence of avant-garde designs and progressive values that spoke to the heart of today’s pressing issues. While their sexy designs undoubtedly turned heads, it was the brand’s powerful message of social consciousness that truly stole the show. The brand’s creative director, Irakli Rusadze, has taken a bold position against Russia’s problematic behavior towards its neighboring states, particularly Georgia and Ukraine.
The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and decades of hostility towards Georgia have revealed the country’s problematic stance towards its independent neighboring states. The majority of Georgians recognize that Russia poses a significant challenge to their nation, with thousands of Russian soldiers and border guards stationed in the Administrative Boundary Line in Samachablo (South Ossetia). The European Union Monitoring Mission estimates that approximately 40% of the total passable areas in the region have been fenced off as a result of Russia’s creeping occupation and aggressive borderization. This has resulted in a war of ideologies, with its wounds deeply felt among the Georgian community, especially the queer community, as Russian propaganda is often built on anti-queer attitudes.
Initially, SITUATIONIST considered holding its fashion show at the Administrative Boundary Line in Samachablo, or even at the Russian-Georgian “Friendship” Monument, which would have been ironic given the current state of affairs. However, the brand realized that it must combat differently and that sometimes existence is the purest form of resistance.
With this in mind, Irakli Rusadze embarked on creating a new menswear collection that celebrates bold, free, gender-non-confirming, unapologetic characters who stand against oppressive forces. The Spring/Summer 2024 collection is not only about fashion but also about making a statement against oppression and promoting freedom.
Therefore, SITUATIONIST has chosen to hold its show at the Tbilisi Sulfur Baths, a location of immense historical significance, where Georgian ancestors would often come to express their love and affection amidst the warm, comforting steam and the scent of sulfur. By doing so, the brand hopes to remind the community that love and freedom are worth fighting for, and that they must continue to resist oppressive attitudes and systems in all their forms. The brand’s decision to hold the show at this location is a powerful statement that reflects the importance of cultural heritage and the power of the community. The venue represents a significant cultural symbol of Georgian history and identity, while also offering a unique and intimate setting for the brand’s message of freedom and love.
SITUATIONIST’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection is not just a fashion statement, but a call to action. The brand’s commitment to standing up against oppression and promoting inclusivity and freedom is a powerful reminder that fashion can be more than just clothing, it can also be a platform for social change.
Our photographer Marc Medina went backstage to capture the collection. Take a look below:
LEÏTI stars in the campaign of the partnership between Meller and the Sónar Festival
Clarks Strides Towards a Sustainable and Stylish Summer with the Sunder Coast Sandals
Courrèges, the French fashion brand currently creatively directed by Nicolas Di Felice, presents its Resort 2026 collection.
Diesel’s 2025 Pride capsule collection, created with the Tom of Finland Foundation, is all about freedom, freedom to express yourself, to love who you want, and to be unapologetically you.
Andrii Barabash at Elite photographed by Adrian Cuerdo and styled by Matíos & Cesar, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
PUMA has once again joined forces with French designer Louis Gabriel Nouchi, this time revisiting the 1999 Mostro Mule.
Over fifty emerging Finnish designers presented their collections at the Amos Rex SS25 fashion show, held in the courtyard of Helsinki’s Amos Rex museum on May 23rd. The event formed part of Fashion in… »
Resort 2026 by DSQUARED2 is rebellion at its purest!
Japanese artist Kunimasa Aoki has won the 2025 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize for his terracotta sculpture Realm of Living Things 19.
This collaboration reflects Paloceras’ approach to eyewear design, where technical precision meets handcrafted detail.
Last week, Helsinki became a focal point for fashion innovation as Aalto University presented its graduating students’ work at Näytös25.
Gal Nell Dahan debuts in menswear with his Fall/Winter 2025 collection, characterized by timelessness, rich fabrics, and sustainability.
This summer, the Monte-Carlo Beach Club has a new look, thanks to Jacquemus.
Nike’s latest running shoe, the Structure 26, arrives with a clear mission to deliver serious stability without sacrificing comfort.
Helsinki has long been an incubator for avant-garde creativity, and this year’s Fashion in Helsinki solidified its reputation as a nexus where fashion and art dissolve into one another.
The shoe takes inspiration from mid-century track runners but gives them Margiela’s signature deconstructed touch.
YSL Beauty has announced actor and musician Aron Piper as its new ambassador for Spain and Portugal. The 27-year-old star perfectly embodies the brand’s values of authenticity and individuality, aligning with the ethos of… »
The launch campaign, “EVERYTHING NOW – LEAVE NOTHING UNEXPRESSED,” captures the energy of a generation that treats every day as a chance to reinvent.
In a world that still asks “Does anyone even want to be a man anymore?”, their answer is a middle finger wrapped in glitter.
It began with a disruption: intentional, visual, and unapologetic. GLITCH wasn’t designed to follow clean lines or play it safe.
The organisation in charge of the prestigious ANDAM fashion competition unveils the list of finalists for the 36th edition.
Instead of just taking backstage shots himself, photographer Joonas S’Diri handed his phone to the models and let them take selfies.
Junya Watanabe joins forces with Alpha Industries to deliver a biker jacket defined by military rigor and Japanese avant-garde simplicity.
Granado teams up with Guimarães Rosa Institute and the French Institute for the fourth edition of ABERTO.
Indeed, after the calm that the last two months have brought (especially for those who work in the industry), it’s back to what, for some, is the most dreaded date: Fashion Week, which is not just a week, but a… »
The event highlighted a mix of established brands and new designers, all recognized for their focus on sustainability, creativity, and meaningful design.
The capsule collection takes the duo’s chaotic, genre-defying energy and turns it into wearable rebellion.
Persol’s Latest Drop is a Love Letter to Cinema and Steve McQueen
Maksym Rassokha captured by the lens of Oleg Borisuk and styled by Kiss Mark, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
To mark its anniversary, LOEWE is releasing the Puzzle 10 collection, a tribute to a decade of innovation.
For their 20th anniversary, END. joins forces with Aries to drop Arcade, a capsule collection built on nostalgia for 90s gaming culture, drift racing, and the gritty charm of seaside arcades.
