Though light years away from Earth, Naravanna was a short distance from the audience that packed Royal Paragon Hall, for the presentation of the Sirivannavari and S'Homme Spring/Summer 2019 collection.
The maison's founder and creative director, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, piloted the exploration to the imaginary planet, whose gleaming dunes landscaped a celestial runway at the centre of the hall.
Models circumvented the elevations and walked the criss-cross choreography, in sync with an original score composed by the multi-talented Princess and performed by the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.
Starting with the beat of a marimba, an African xylophone, the music was amplified with sounds of the rhythm section -- bass, guitar, drums and synthesiser -- and then combined with sounds of the classical section for an enthralling score.
Inspired by gearwheels, the Princess even created a new percussion instrument named Reform for the music, which was complemented by sounds of space, drones and ambient noise, to transport the audience to outer space.
Lighting along with laser and smoke effects further stretched the imagination in having landed on Naravanna, where fictionally the highest stage of artificial-intelligence (AI) technology has been achieved while maintaining a rich diversity of nature.
"It is all about the journey to Naravanna, an undiscovered planet in this universe where everything coexists in peace. Its creatures, especially mutants, inspire the collection featuring graphics evoking AI's mainboard, African-influenced craftsmanship and space-age details," said Princess Sirivannavari.
Metamorphosis and mutation transform every living thing on this extraterrestrial utopia, which is reflected in the name of the collection, Abode of Metamorphosis.
Comprising 67 looks, the runway show began with models strutting space-age outfits such as a bolero Lurex tweed jacket paired with a dress in the same fabric and a cocktail peplum dress with metallic quilt details.
Other key pieces included a zebra-sequinned tulle blouse with hand-stitched feather details, and a white corset dress with double layering of burgundy silk and African bead fringes.
The African influence extends to colour stripes accentuating shirts from the S'Homme collection, which also includes a beige hoodie trench coat with badges on the sleeves, a sage-green two-button suit, and a yellow safari jacket matched with navy-blue cropped pants.
"Silhouettes and structures are quite varied and complicated, from deconstructed looks to asymmetrical gowns. I added some details and techniques to create dimensions such as a quilted pattern, pleating technique from Gérard Lognon's workshop in Paris, and Maasai Mara-inspired embroidery produced in our maison's workshop," noted the Princess.
The Sirivannavari Atelier and Academy was established as the in-house workshop for couture embroidery, whose savoir-faire is showcased, for instance, in feather appliqué blouse, crystal- and pearl-encrusted gown, and African-bead embroidery details.
Featuring mutants, alien creatures, AI's mainboard and gearwheels, graphic prints -- one of the brand's DNA signifiers -- remain eye-catching elements incorporated throughout the collection of ready-to-wear and accessories.
Arm candies include a python bucket bag with a variety of charms, a zebra bucket bag adorned with feathers and charms, and a clutch in the season's signature print with a peacock badge.
Footwear ranges from sandals with African beads and feather embellishments to elegant leopard-print leather shoes with gearwheel-shaped heels as well as crystal and fringe adornments.
Crafted at the Kazuri workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, African beads have been incorporated into the design of costume jewellery while mother-of-pearl, pearl, lapis lazuli and malachite appear on fine rose gold jewellery featuring the maison's emblematic S and peacock.
The Naravanna odyssey is versed by poetry written by Princess Sirivannavari, who expresses how the planet is "so far, from time that will not return".
But after the finale, it was time for the audience to zap back to Earth, where the spring/summer 2019 collection can still be discovered at the Sirivannavari boutique on the 1st Floor, Siam Paragon.
