LAD/ Spring Summer 2027 returns to its point of origin with KIN LA BELLE, a collection shaped by identity, memory, and emotional connection. After the journey introduced through Kinshasa to Capri and Osaka Layover, the label turns inward and looks back to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The title means Kin the Beautiful, and the collection treats the city as a source of rhythm, pride, and personal meaning.
SPRING SUMMER 2027
KIN LA BELLE draws from Kinshasa in the 1980s, a period marked by music, elegance, and cultural confidence. The collection looks to the force of La Sape and the influence of Congolese rumba, using clothing as a language of dignity, individuality, and presence. In this context, dress becomes a way to stand fully in oneself.
Earlier work followed movement across cities, while KIN LA BELLE grounds the label’s identity in Kinshasa itself. The collection focuses on the city’s culture, rhythm, and emotion, giving the season a clearer sense of place and personal return.
LAD/ reworks it through softer construction, fluid silhouettes, and layered proportions. The garments move with the body while holding shape and intention. Jackets, trousers, and layered pieces keep sartorial discipline in view, while the softer build gives the collection a more open feeling.
Travel wool, Italian linen, easy iron cotton, cotton with cashmere and silk, Japanese denim, satin viscose, vintage Japanese textiles, Italian leather, Mexican silver, cotton jersey, and Italian knit all enter the collection. These materials give LAD/ a broad tactile range, from tailoring cloths to lighter surfaces and pieces made for daily movement.
Custom jacquard developments, brand-developed animal prints, graphic embellishments, Congolese-inspired detailing, and subtle American collegiate references shape the visual language.
LAD/ uses soft-structured tailoring, innovative pattern cutting, functional details, and stitch-based design accents to give the clothes clarity and purpose. Each element supports the collection’s focus on presence, movement, and identity.
A performance by Fally Ipupa accompanies the presentation, connecting the collection to music and the cultural force that shaped its direction. KIN LA BELLE reaffirms where LAD/ begins and how it continues to develop. The collection looks to Kinshasa as origin, memory, and emotional ground, while opening a path toward future expansion, including the introduction of LAD/Y.
