It was dark and cold, but little did that matter to the people swarming around the doors, up and down. Someone said on Instagram it was like the Berghain waiting queue in Germany. A flood of people were disconcerted as to what or which was the access to the show in this backdrop far from the city. A door opened and that was it. I got seated and was ready for a foggy show.
Inexplicably it is a trance, the hard music beating against those plain brutallist walls… I was late for the backstage, shame on me, as Han Kjobenhaven is always an ulterior experience. In exchange, I got a nice place to watch the show with even nicer company such as stylists and ambassadors.
Some windows at the rear of the venue flashed with light in sync with the rhythm of techno music. From the nothingness, designs arose following one another in a space where people were vanishing in contemplation and gasped as they saw the looks pass along. Angulous silhouettes seemed the only defined lines in all that blurry space, the only thing to lay eyes on. The designs incorporated diverse materials such as faux fur, denim, and retro football merchandise, symbolizing both urban grit and communal connection. Models wearing hearing aids further emphasize the collection’s commitment to authentic self-expression. My favorite, if you may ask, was a lilac dress, alike everything designed until now by the brand but at the same time, it seemed radically different. It was smooth, soft, and texturized whilst keeping the drama shoulders.
This collection, Concrete Born, is an exploration of authenticity and raw energy, inspired by the rugged beauty of urban landscapes and the resilient spirit of their inhabitants. It serves as a deeply personal homage by Artistic Director Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen, reflecting his upbringing in Denmark’s suburban neighborhoods. It draws from the textures, emotions, and forms of his childhood environment and the people who shaped him. While doing so, he merges his past and present state of mind. I recently listened to a podcast in which they said we have a role as a person in our house, and neighborhood, and also as a person in our country, but it is more, as a person in our continent, and so on and long. It is fascinating how the brand aims to resonate with the spirit of community and individuality roles explained in a collection.
To pin it all, absolute silence in white noise sounds in the carousel moment. Just people walking into the infinite corridor at the monumental TAP1. Building up to the tension created throughout the show with the soundtrack. From the beginning of the catwalk, you couldn’t glimpse the end, and the same happened the other way around. Everyone was just holding their breath, expecting something. The music, the rhythm, the angles, the designs. All led to this anguishing moment of empty silence, synchronized silence. Broken and solved when the applause round began. Just the perfect way to end up a Thursday night.
Photography by Ionela Bona for VEIN MAGAZINE
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