Backstage at KOLOVRAT SS23 at ModaLisboa Oasis

Ancient principles with a contemporary twist

From ancient Egypt to twenty-first century Lisbon, Lidija Kolovrat brought Egyptian flair to the runway on the third day of ModaLisboa, with her contemporary artistic take on history. Through symbols and hieroglyphs on prints and laser cut patterns, the designer expressed her unique vision designing a collection full of drama and style.

Beauty by Antonia Rosa and team with Clarins
Hair by Cláudio Pacheco and team at Chiado Studio with L´Oréal Professionnel Paris

Photos by Analicia and Tom Barreto
Words by Fernanda Russomano

Using textile manipulation on fabrics like silk, cotton and denim, the looks presented were marked by neutral earthy tones and loose silhouettes with measured details resembling the ancient civilization’s history. While denim pants had beautifully crafted cut-outs of Egyptian crosses, a god-like illustration of an Egyptian cat stamped the front of a flowy dress. One of her dresses even mimicked mummification, with its fabric covering the model’s arms and head, as if she had just walked out of a tomb.

Though Kolovrat’s designs stand out on their own, the hair and makeup from the runway show definitely captured the audience’s attention. Concentric “target” circles were painted and centered on the face of every model by Antonia Rosa’s team, while long sharp spikes were made by Cláudio Pacheco’s team on the models hair, creating dramatic and one-of-a-kind looks.

Ancient principles with a contemporary twist pervaded Kolovrat’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection. The designer invited us to look back at ancient Egyptian history, paying an homage to a long-gone reality as it inspires fashion today, bringing a new perspective on a deep rooted spiritutal culture.