SS22 grooves between Surf and Western European Traditional clothing, a strict etiquette of dress struck with a blissful wave of freedom. Chopova Lowena explores their love of the tied-together goodness of Germanic ‘tracht’styles slipped on over the top of lycra swimsuits and low cut ‘wetsuits’. Lowena’s discovery of Germanic relatives in her family tree geared the direction of the research this season.

SS22 is, for the first time ever, captured on video in a film shot by Charlotte Wales, inspired by footage from parlour-style narrated fashion shows from the late 1960s. Caught on film are a street-cast group of girls, boys, and kids gazing upon the new collection in a giddy glory.The scene is set in a brutalist skatepark in Essex.

Swiss garment details including split necklines and oval and triangular tabs and strings inspired the cotton, taffeta, and organza confections for Spring. Dresses, skirts, and bags are made from a recycled fibre fil coupe fabric woven in a geometric flower pattern in both black and white. A mini bouffant skirt in a Victoriana stripe is paired with a hooded mesh top, inspired by winter surf hoods.

Chopova Lowena continues their collaboration with local artisans, resulting in this season’s recycled tin can crochet bras which come in a neon arctic blue and a T-strap style with neon green details.

Deadstock cotton trousers are panelled and cut to mirror surfboard graphics, as well as illustrated badges inspired by board stickers. New menswear styles play on the dressup-dressdown contrast between surf and traditional garments.

Painterly marbled coats and jackets are new for SS22, as is swimwear. Strappy and cut out asymmetrical bikinis, tankinis, and swimsuits are adorned with silver goat and gold mouse pendants. Shown worn both as swimwear and as tops with skirts, they add a new layer to the Chopova Lowena dress code.

The Chopova Lowena DNA continues to evolve in the juxtaposition created by odd couplings, emerging as a mix of humour and glamour.