New York Fashion Week has kicked off early with a super start, thanks to Naomi Campbell and PrettyLittleThing. The supermodel and the fashion brand collaborated on a multipiece collection that was unveiled on the runway on Tuesday night inside Cipriani’s Wall St. location with a star-studded crowd — including Lori Harvey, Julia Fox, Teyana Taylor and more.
“It’s important for me that I was able to share with my culture and these two here,” Campbell exclusively shared with FN backstage after her PrettyLittleThing collaboration’s runway show, gesturing to collaborators Victor Anate and Edvin Thompson.
Campbell saw her collaboration as an opportunity to elevate the platforms of young Black designers Anate (of VICNATE) and Thompson (of Theophilio).
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“For me, from the beginning…if they were happy with doing [this collection] with me, then they have me, because that’s what it was about,” she said.
The feelings from the young creatives were mutual.
“It’s an honor, honestly,” Thompson said. “I think we’re still decompressing this moment, but I can’t stress enough how so important this is — us, by us. Truly, it’s really, really exciting. It’s been a privilege.”
When it came to designing her collection, Campbell was her own muse; the affordable line’s sparkly dresses, slouchy suits and sheer draping all bring to mind the model’s iconic moments on and off the runway over the decades. However, one of her ultimate inspirations was Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, which has swept social media this summer with its powerful shows — and the singer’s array of sparkly, shiny and statement-making costumes.
“What was a concert is no longer a concert,” Campbell said. “The Renaissance Tour was a movement. You told people to wear silver, and they did! People want to have fun, people want to dress fun and they want to feel good about themselves — and we have all aspects that cover that in this collection.”
The model also had the upcoming holiday season in mind while launching the PrettyLittleThing line this summer. “It’s festive, it’s got to be colorful,” she added. “Christmas will be upon us. People want to wear something fun.”
The PrettyLittleThing x Naomi Campbell capsule is available now and also includes a range of footwear, from over-the-knee boots to silver croc sandals.
NYFW is held in New York City in September, marking the start of Fashion Month. The spring 2024 season will see a calendar of fashion shows and presentations from a range of designers, including Ralph Lauren, Christian Siriano, Proenza Schouler and more. The occasion will also include numerous parties and activations from brands like Aldo, J.Crew, MCM and more.
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote and interned for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.