story by Tal Shpantzer
photos by Tal Shpantzer
Ivy Higa’s second season collection of the Ivy h. line is full of playful surprises and subtle details.
This red-splattered print has a tiny Ivy h. logo in some of the larger blotches, a distinct signature without the gaudiness of more corporate brandstanding seen all too often from more established labels.
The custom-developed Italian fabrics included bold metallics which were well balanced by other sheer and flowing materials.
Regarding the fabrics, Higa said, “My inspiration this season was Japanese samurai armor and clothing. This season we developed a fabric, the white fabric with the red dots, they actually have a subtle detail of the Ivy h. logo in them if you look very closely. The fabric was developed in Italy. It was very important to me to have the very best quality of fabric. Not only is the silhouette gorgeous, it has to feel comfortable against your body, and that’s one of the most important things for me.”
The Hawaiian-native designer pulled in Japanese influences for the color story as well, saying, “metals, the steels that are used to make the Samurai swords, the armor, the Japanese flag, a lot of Japanese-inspired pieces.”
These were noticeably higher quality samples than we saw at most other new designers’ presentations.
Standouts in the line were the reversible coats in shades of charcoal, steel gray, and black, with delightfully dramatic red buttons that really popped and sold the looks. Attention to details is what makes this edgy collection flow with elegance and harmony. The tailored quality, the cuts, and the fit are what seem to make Ivy h. style so intriguing, and the designer one to watch.
