by Omi

Lala Berlin can light up even the dreariest of days. It could be because Layla Piedayesh is an inherently hopeful person and that inherent optimism shines through her work or it could be because Lala Berlin as a brand is most effective through the lens of uplifting optimism so what we see is more or less our projection stemming from how we associate certain colors with certain emotions. Theory and philosophy aside, Lala Berlin’s Spring / Summer collection titled Lala Island is an exploration of fused identity through the prism of color and tonality. From lilac to vivid orange, pastel hues to printed silhouettes, the whole collection is a curious dip into the fused aesthetics of cultural identity without the mind-numbing appropriation that comes with it. For that alone, this collection deserves a lot of praise.

On a more functional level, Lala Berlin is not here to reinvent the wheel but to make sure when the wheel is stuck in the muddy interiors of tribalism, nationalism and identity politics, there is still some respite in the form of fused identity without forgoing identity itself.

Cross-stitched Kufiya embroidery and the floral prints are deliciously poised to evoke a sense of belonging yet they are light enough to elevate the mood of the day. As a whole, the collection is filled with levity and rarely does it not fail to deliver. It is a complete collection with quirks of German functionality (in the form of scarfs turned belts), Persian sense of color and universal exploration of who and what we are.

Leyla envisions an island full of complementing identity with no real element of conflict or subjugation and foundationally that sense of aesthetics is what makes this collection one of the most well thought through and complete collection of Copenhagen Fashion Week.