The designer returned to the runway with a self-assured collection imagining a world of female liberation.
Few designers can captivate a front row of seasoned fashion insiders who have been waiting for nearly an hour, but Dilara Findikoğlu is not just any designer. Returning after a season-long hiatus, Findikoğlu staged a powerful, high-energy show at Electrowerkz, a 19th-century warehouse turned rave, fashion, and fetish venue in London. The setting, drenched in moody red lighting, set the tone for a collection that was equal parts gothic romance, rebellion, and divine feminine energy.
A Collection Rooted in Chaos and Strength
This season, Findikoğlu found inspiration in Venus—the Roman goddess of love and liberation—and used it to reflect on chaos and resilience in today’s world. Backstage, she had pinned up mantras of empowerment, reminding models to embody their strength:
“Medieval rockstars. Moody but ethereal. Don’t give a f** but hypnotic. Kill it. Own it.”*
The show opened with a corseted two-piece ensemble, appearing almost as if it had been crafted from freshly skinned dragon scales. The look, paired with regal, plaited hair, immediately evoked images of a battle-scarred queen—perhaps a bruised yet defiant Rhaenyra Targaryen.
The Findikoğlu Aesthetic: Baroque Meets Rave Culture
Findikoğlu’s signature dark, romantic, and rebellious aesthetic was on full display:
Corsetry Reimagined: From corsets made of braided hair to contoured velvet silhouettes, the collection celebrated sculptural tailoring and intricate detailing.
Baroque Punk: A high-neck bodice covered in safety pins, pearls, and oversized conch shells—a mix of punk rebellion and regal excess.
Tactile Textures: The show featured shaggy bomber jackets made from hair, exaggerated shoulders, and tattooed bodysuits, a collaboration with leather artisans Whitaker Malem and tattoo artist Jonah Slater.
New Separates: For the first time, Findikoğlu introduced wearable separates, like jeans, leather skinny pants, and sneakers (a collaboration with Converse), adding an unexpected dose of rave-ready comfort.
The collection balanced historical references with modern streetwear, blending Roman goddess energy, Joan of Arc armor, and underground rave culture.
A New World, Defined by Women
In her show notes, Findikoğlu expressed her desire to create a world beyond reactionary chaos—a space where women define their own power and potential:
“Rather than fight to dismantle this agenda, for now, we disengage and define our own. Rather than look outside to find a world that actualizes our full potential, we discover it within.”
This ethos isn’t new for Findikoğlu. The designer—who staged a guerrilla show at Central Saint Martins in 2015 after being denied a spot in the press show—has always been a fighter. She is also a strong advocate for mental health in fashion, speaking openly about the pressures of the industry and the need to step back, recharge, and create on one’s own terms.
At a time when fashion feels like an endless cycle of deadlines and expectations, Findikoğlu’s collection served as a powerful reminder that taking control—both in art and life—is the ultimate act of rebellion.
