Review: Botter Spring 2023 Collection
You have to revisit Lisi Herrebrugh's and Rushemy Botter's past Botter collections to really evaluate the tidal wave of ready-to-wear meets swimwear that debuted on the runway today (9/27). Since their Fall 2021 “Romancing the Coral Reef," where the designing duo collaborated with dive company Curious 2 Dive on an underwater coral nursery, the well-being of our oceans and global climate change has motivated how they design their collections.
Past seasons feature an abundance of upcycled details from recycled ocean plastic beads and rain gear made from umbrellas. Spring 2023 topped that innovativeness by introducing textiles made from kelp and algae. These fabrics design the knitwear cardigans smartly styled as a top with sleeves tied around the neck and little black dresses with scuba suits tacked on the front. Models literally stomped down the runway in black suit trousers, belts with "B" embellished buckles, and the Botter's signature two-in-one sneaker derby shoes carrying actual icebergs as bags. Rhinestone dolphin and beach umbrella motifs decorated t-shirts and jeans and suits with lapels that formed heart shapes drove home Herrebrugh's and Botter's love for their environmental passions that they continue to weave throughout their brand's identity.
There are still kinks to work out as Botter introduces womenswear into their line as the two depart from a three-year stint at the helm of Nina Ricci; the menswear looks are more polished than their feminine offerings. But, with their brand's point-of-view established and their skills sharpened from their time at the iconic Parisian fashion house, Botter's potential to present an equally yoked men's and womenswear collection is forthcoming.
And yes, those were water filled-condoms on the model's hands.