“If we don’t hold a big runway show, we don’t need dozens of looks,” says Malaika Raiss as she walks through her collection, which was presented in a smaller setting this season. Its title, Interlude, can be taken literally: It’s a little breather to take a step back and reflect on the brand’s development before the larger projects she’s currently working on are finally released.
The main visual starting point for this pause was a trip to Greece. Having worked with photo prints last season, it made sense to incorporate holiday snapshots, be they of flowers or sculptures, into these new designs. Caftans and a variety of feminine dresses typical of Malaikaraiss played with volumes, which contrasted with waisted tailoring and a paper-like coat in firmer silhouettes.
In addition to hosting an event in her store and creative space, Raiss had her new clothes photographed in the style of a friendship book. Models, stylists, and other close acquaintances, many of whom have been with her since the beginning of her brand, wear a collection that is undoubtedly her most personal in years. Even her husband’s habit of borrowing her pieces played a part. The unisex shirts, shorts, and resort trousers are a sign that Malaikaraiss is opening up to a wider audience.
