MBFWA 18: Goldwell X Camilla

It was the final show of another frenetic Fashion Week, and Camilla transformed Carriageworks’ third gallery into another world, then transported guests into it. Attendees entered a room they may have been in earlier to find it entirely different. How? Well, it was covered top to bottom in thousands of squares metres of printed silk, there was an alluring and overpowering smell of incense, cute cultural gifts and printed pillows lined the chairs, petals covered the floor and tea was being distributed by waiters. Attendees were also drawn to the lotus tree – or peace tree – at the centre of the runway and the percussive instruments surrounding it. The message was clear, this wouldn’t be a show to watch, it was something to experience.

Truly, this wasn’t your ordinary show, as models of all ages walked the runway to drum beats and Eastern-inspired music, before the final moment saw petals falling from up above. Leaning into these fashion-forward, cultural influences was Goldwell and hair director Alan White, who’s cool, luxe hair look, ideal for the modern travel girl, complemented facial jewellery and the bright prints and colours that the Camilla brand is renowned for.

“Our girl is a traveller, she’s a part of the Camilla tribe, she’s gone from a young girl to a woman in Japan,” Alan said. “So she’s travelled, she has the historic side of the culture and the modern side of the culture. With a nod to samurai, we’ve opened up the face. We’ve used the Goldwell Kerasilk range, which allows me to set it but not build volume. I wanted it to be flat but with a beautiful texture coming through the ends.”

“We ended up using the new Kerasilk Control, it’s like an oil for the hair, but if you put a tiny drop in and blow dry it, it comes out super smooth, it’s an instant repair.”

Like with everything in Camilla, from the transformative set up, to the music, staging and choreography and, of course, the unique garments themselves, the devil for the hair was in the details.

“We put in little indentations and bends and tuck backs and caught ponytails that we wrapped in printed paper as a nod to the peace tree, and with Camilla it’s all about love and peace, so that’s our nods to peace hair, a nod to origami as well,” Alan said.

It was a show for the senses, keeping your sense of sight, smell, taste and sound busy at all times, as you watched the models take a journey and followed them along that Eastern road to the peace tree in the centre. We’ll be hearing bold drums, smelling that aroma and seeing the beauty, hair and fashion details in our mind for a long time.