For Spring/Summer 2022, Ahluwalia presents its third short film, “Parts of Me”, directed by Akinola Davies Jr, in collaboration with Mulberry.
Parts of Me is a meditative offering carrying us through the transcendental embodiments surrounding Black and Brown hair. Indian heritage influenced her fascination with hair as a means of identity, protest, and expression as it holds such importance in both cultures. Through this short film, the time, patience, bonds, and history of hair are explored through movement, set, and a score composed by Kelly Moran.
The accompanying Spring Summer ’22 collection is Ahluwalia’s first joint men’s and women’s outing and is presented through a campaign and lookbook shot by Laurence Ellis. The collection celebrates Afro-Caribbean hair’s artistry, symbolism, and rituals through braid-inspired seam lines, prints and embroidery.
Referencing sketchbooks Ahluwalia has been building upon for years, the collection looks to photography by J.D. Okhai Ojeikere, 90’s music videos and vintage hair salon posters for inspiration. These elements were combined and became the starting point for a second graphic collaboration with Lagos-born British designer Dennis McInnes. Prints, laser artwork details, and embroidery details span the collection in various forms and a summery yet earthy color palette of baby blue, beiges, and browns. The 60s and 70’s Black liberation protest symbols of pride such as an afro comb and braided hair silhouettes are purpose-made into embroidery badges that adorn the pieces throughout the collection. As with every season, a large part of the design process was sourcing the right vintage and deadstock fabrics to translate into the Ahluwalia language.
Ahluwalia built on their signature denim, sports and tailoring pieces for the menswear, incorporating braid inspired motifs and graphics through various textile techniques such as printing, dyeing, and embroidery
Take a look at the lookbook below:
