The Autumn Winter 2024 collection titled ‘Dark Waters‘ by BOTTER is a celebration of the rich and hybrid Caribbean culture, encapsulating the fusion of music, literature, culinary arts, and origins. BOTTER’s identity is deeply rooted in its ‘Caribbean Couture’ spirit, influenced by Arte Povera’s philosophy, and underscored by a strong commitment to sustainability.
This season’s collection embodies a sense of peaceful confidence and represents a clear next step in the brand’s growth. It focuses on realistic dressing and an evolution in maturity. The designers, Lisi Herrebrugh and Rushemy Botter, emphasize the need for rationality, grounding the collection in reality rather than fantasy.
The collection reevaluates techniques, materials, and styles, resulting in a process of purification to produce understandable and coherent garments. A notable innovation is the reworking of trouser patterns into trenchcoats and dresses, creating airy, balloon-shaped garments that take on a dynamic form while walking. The collection also explores fragmentation, inspired by the Caribbean culture, where a palette of multiple quality fabrics and colors are blended.
Attention to detail and realistic depictions are central to the collection, with poetry found in the techniques used. The needle punch technique, dating back to the 19th century, is employed to blend contrasting garments together, such as a blazer with a coat or a shirt sleeve with a blazer sleeve, creating a soft, cloudy line reminiscent of running waves.
Sustainability is evident in the use of circular denim, upcycled with raw edges that unravel, adding a poetic element to the threads. The color palette is inspired by the darkness of deep waters, featuring deep greens and blues combined with sandy beiges and vibrant color flashes. Textures range from loose-hanging yarns and soft fluid wool flower jacquards to crispy Japanese twill wools.
The collection includes underwater scenes sprayed by artist Gaétan Gris, weathered and used bike saddle bags as accessories, and the iconic Stacked Derby Soccer Cleat shoe. BOTTER’s collaboration with Reebok merges street fashion, athletic performance, and cultural influences, drawing inspiration from the vibrant street football culture of Curaçao.
Highlights of the collaboration include a sleek nylon tracksuit, a padded jacket with the Botter logo and Reebok vector, a padded polo shirt, a crewneck with a trompe-l’oeil collar, and a divided cap, all showcasing the fragmented technique seen throughout the collection. The collaboration also introduces two new colorways of the popular Energia bo kéts.
The show music, curated by Bnnyhunna, an emerging artist from Amsterdam, complements the collection with his fusion of hip hop, R&B, and afrobeats, adding an authentic musical backdrop to the ” collection.
