DUBAI: Designer-to-the-stars David Koma tapped Moroccan-Italian model Malika El-Maslouhi to showcase his latest collection during London Fashion Week on Friday, and the Spring/Summer 2022 line did not disappoint.
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Koma studied Fine Art in St. Petersburg before moving to London in 2003 to take up a place at Central Saint Martins’ College of Art and Design, graduating with an MA Fashion in April 2009.
He launched his eponymous label soon after and has gone on to reach astronomical success, having recently caught the eye of a number of celebrities — including Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, and Beyoncé — who have all shown off his creations on the red carpet.
On Friday, the designer showcased his latest ready-to-wear collection at the London Aquatics Centre, which was designed by the late architect Dame Zaha Hadid.
The lineup began with a fresh take on traditional one-piece swimsuits that soon turned into the designer’s immediately identifiable partywear, complete with cutouts galore and a strong color palette. The showcase ended with a series of ultra-glam gowns, featuring glitz, feathers and neon shades aplenty.
For her part, El-Maslouhi showed off a number of looks, including a form-fitting gown in fluorescent pink complete with thin spaghetti straps and a heavily feathered bodice. A hip-high slit finished off the daring look.
Next up, the model showed off a black oversized hooded sweatshirt and matching leggings, both adorned with large reflective sequins.
When it came to the models’ beauty looks, Koma opted for shimmery makeup and heavily gelled locks, which made his cohort of catwalkers seem as though they had just stepped out of a swimming pool in a fitting nod to the show’s location.
“London calling! @davidkomalondon thank you for having me (and) congrats on the show,” El-Maslouhi wrote on Instagram after the show.
The model is hot off a series of runway showcases at New York Fashion Week, where she walked for the likes of Ulla Johnson, Prabal Gurung and Peter Dundas’s collaboration with online retailer Revolve.
The breakout star has been taking the industry by storm since making her modelling debut when she was 18-years-old.
In addition to gracing the runways of storied fashion houses such as Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Jacquemus, among others, the fashion star has also appeared in international campaigns for the likes of Off-White, Lanvin, Calvin Klein Swim and Zadig & Voltaire.
