London-based Serbian designer Marko Mitanovski showcased a sculptural and theatrical presentation for his AW/15 collection at London Fashion Week.

His designs have been worn by likes of Lady Gaga, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Katie Melua and Paloma Faith, to name a few. He has also featured in: Dazed, Vogue.co.uk, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Grazia, L’Officiel, Cosmopolitan, Vision, Time Out, Q magazine and I-D magazine.

This collection saw intricately sculpted, leather and PVC fabrics, complimented by light knitted body stockings and lycra leggings, with plenty of laced-up leather detail.

The androgynous designs drew on juxtaposition concepts through Marko’s inspiration found through nature, reptile skeletons and architecture.

Texture and shape is a key indicator for this collection. Exaggerated shoulders, peplums, necklines and silhouettes were seen and the venue lighting emphasised the complex use of black tones used for matt and shiny fabrics and leathers.

The models wore intricately embellished face jewellery, which also was seen worn as head pieces, complimenting the fantastical theme of this costume collection. Models walked with black paint on their face and bodies, further enhancing the dark, yet beautiful, theme showcased.

In all, this boundary pushing collection was beautiful, dark and dangerous and certainly wowed all that came to see. A winning collection by Marko Mitanovski.

Keep reading for the interview with the designer where he discusses more about the thought process behind this collection.

What was your inspiration for the collection?

I find inspiration in nature, in interesting textures, architecture, structures, minerals and stones. The renaissance era costumes also influence my work. I collaborated with a sculptor and a jewellery designer for this collection also, so I was able to create really interesting pieces with mixed influences. Skeletons also hold a lot of interest and influence for me.

How do you begin the process of creating shapes that will form a final piece?

I just literally start with something, anything, and see where the process of creativity will take me. I can’t really predict how something will look, but I develop and tweak along the journey of creating a piece until I’m happy with the final result.

What was the thought process behind models walking on the runway wearing black body paint, and the final model walking with white body paint? Is this a symbolic connotation?

Yes, it is an unconscious symbolic message. The body paint and black and white colour scheme symbolises that, everything that you do that is problematic will be solved at the end.

Like the light at the end of the tunnel?

Yes, exactly that.

If you had to sum up the whole collection in one word, what would that word be?

Courage.

What’s your favourite piece from the collection?

It’s hard to choose a favourite piece because they all hold something special for me, I even had trouble deciding which look would open and close the show!

Which item did you really enjoy creating where you though you really went ‘wild’ on?

The second to last look (pictured), the jacket specifically, was really interesting to create, I really enjoyed the process of creating the shape and silhouette.

For more information about Marko’s collection please visit his website.