Photos by Matthew Passiglia
I first learned of Berenik designer Veronika Brusa at New York Fashion Week last season. I was immediately intrigued by the effortless cool girl vibe emanating from her clothes. Androgynous and sportive, her pieces drape the body rather than conform; they truly are adornments.
The designer is a master at combining her love of art and graphic design into her creative concept and for S/S16 she was inspired by the works of friend and artist Steve Voll. Brusa used viscose and cotton to create watercolor prints in vibrant colors, and leather for patchwork designs in more subdued tones of olive, chocolate and black. Shiny cupro was used in track suits, skirt-pants and jackets giving a feeling of comfortable elegance. Perhaps my favorite was the grey stonewashed denim jackets and jumpsuits – so modern and chic.
What I love most about Berenik is the duality of their silhouettes. A wide cut jumpsuit can pass for a dress; flowing pants appear to be skirts. This not only creates functionality for the wearer, but a multifaceted approach to dressing that is anything but mainstream.
The entire collection was head to toe Berenik. Painted bamboo sunglasses, platform leather sandals and large rectangular handbags were created specifically for spring. To see a behind the scenes look into the creation of her shoes, click here.