This season, Galvan’s design director Anna-Christin Haas and creative director Sola Harrison looked to Julian Charrière. The artist produces conceptual, mixed-media commentaries on the relationships between human beings and their natural surroundings, via sculptures and photographs of celestial and landscape imagery. Haas and Harrison found Charrière’s work provocative in terms of the conversations they’ve been having about how to make the Galvan label more sustainable. As of now, the team is clear about the fact that their sustainability initiatives, including the use of more environmentally friendly eveningwear fabric, are very much still in the beginning stages.
From a creative standpoint, though, the new collection does speak to an earthier sensibility, with sandy, soft rust colors and brushed floral prints. Haas and Harrison interpreted Charrière’s starry skies and planets with metallic separates, sequined dresses, and a spangled sheer black top with bell sleeves. A galactic-looking silver suit was also sharp in this category. All around, there was more texture in the collection, and the pieces that really called to mind Charrière’s work were the most successful.
Haas and Harrison added in some of Galvan’s greatest hits—slinky, low V-neck slips and figure-hugging jumpsuits—but these didn’t excite as much. The Galvan DNA doesn’t change a lot from season to season, and it makes sense for them to build on the foundation that’s proven to be a success for them. But there are opportunities in the realm of sustainability; there simply aren’t that many responsibly designed evening lines.
