What do you expect from someone who has been making patterns since the age of 13? Clever sartorial looks that flatter a variety of female figures, that’s what. Irakli Rusadze, the Georgian designer behind the Situationist label, unfurled a collection marked by a sophisticated sartorial flair and a distinct underground feel.
A self-taught designer, Rusadze went on to show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tbilisi in 2016, where he was discovered by the White trade show.
“I didn’t go to school or anything. I made most of the collection out of my apartment and I do everything by myself,” Rusadze told WWD backstage, explaining that he picked up his trade from various odd jobs with Georgian designers.
On the catwalk, a mostly wool and leather array was characterized by flattering feminine silhouettes fit for a range of women, from the fashion-forward professional to the femme fatale.
Ensembles ran the gamut from tight-fitting leather jumpsuits to long, wool dresses and suits that showed off the décolletage with either a keyhole opening or a plunging V-neck. Roomy pants and pleated shorts in wool or leather were paired with cozy sweaters. The array ultimately afforded the crowd a glimpse of what Georgian women are wearing today. “It’s all about the reality on the Georgian streets,” Rusadze said.
Invited by White organizers to present his collection at a runway show for the first time in Milan, the 25-year-old proved to be a must-see for fashion observers in pursuit of fresh blood.
“We are trying to make White ever more international and contemporary,” said White founder Massimiliano Bizzi. “To do that, we scout brands like these all over the world.”