Picture this: a few friends take a “road trip” but instead of traveling via car they take horses and pick up psychedelic mushrooms along the way, turning everything around them into a kaleidoscope of colors. That was what Jasmin Hekmat saw for her Cult Gaia spring 2023 collection, inspired by the 1970 movie Zabriskie Point.
The collection is indeed brightly colored with Western elements peppered throughout. Cowboy chic has been trending for the past few years, but now Cult Gaia is getting on board (and about time, since the label is normally a bellwether for trends). Fringe detailing, micro and macro belts, and a studded skirt and jacket evoke the California desert without distracting from what Cult Gaia makes best: sexy, colorful attire. The way Hekmat approached making denim—by covering it in rhinestones—exemplifies this mindset. “If Cult Gaia is going to do denim, how are we going to do it?” she says. “This is a show-stopping, flattering pant. I would throw a sweater on it and it would be chill.”
Indeed, this is not a collection of staples. Hekmat is interested in novelty, and hopes that every piece feels unique to the buyer. “When I see a lot of one thing, I don’t like it anymore,” she says. “If I see one thing I can give to a lot of people, but it feels one of a kind, then I’m doing a good job.” While the bulk of the collection achieves this goal of novelty, the best pieces feel actually special. See: a sandy tank dress with beaded fringe all over.
