We live in a moment where story telling is an essential skill for fashion designers. But often the talented clothes makers lack this skill and the merely good image-makers don’t have the design ability. Kwaidan Editions is a beautiful exception to the rule. Established in 2016 the label is all about reinterpreting the past to express the present. Kwaidan translates to strange stories in Japanese and refers to Japanese auteur cinema maker Masaki Kobayashi. One way or another, Kwaidan clothes try to capture the irreverent spirit of Kobayashi films in cloth. This means excessive prints and dangerous materials like Latex. Designers Léa Dickely and Hung La have presented a clarity of vision from the beginning. The look is strikingly stripped down with obvious influences from Nineties minimalism, sci-fi and electronic music, as well as Dickely and La’s former employers, which include Celine, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. Their new collection Horror Vacui marks their number ten and questions what is happening on the inside versus the outside – compromising 30 clear looks.

What’s exciting?

In a way, many of the outfits in Latex resemble crude butcher aprons and have a subversive kink factor. Juxtaposed with rich wallpaper style floral prints, the combination is winning and fresh.

The strong silhouette?

One of the foundations of the collection is the tailoring. Mostly single-breasted, the jackets have a strong accentuated nipped waist to give a dramatic silhouette.

Even better?

The look book was shot by designer Léa Dickely opening up new horizons.