Royal grandeur reigned supreme at Nabil Nayal SS19

For SS19, the Syrian-born talent was inspired by Queen Elizabeth I’s famous Tilbury speech from 1558, ahead of the attempted invasion of England by the Spanish Armada (printed on the collection and model’s faces).

Having undertaken a PhD in Elizabethan dress, the designer felt passionately about “emphasising the importance of research in fashion education and practice, through the richness of the archives available at the Library.” The hip-lit collaboration will also see NN host a Research Masterclass for fashion design students at the British library as part of a competition organised in collaboration with the BFC Colleges Council.

“Queen Elizabeth’s strength and power live on symbolically,” Nabil writes in his show notes. High-drama reigned supreme, from a 40-foot train dramatically cascading down the steps of the library and dark taffetas to synched cape-like silhouettes, classic white shirts re-worked and extreme ruffles. Check out the full collection in our gallery below, shot by Ryan Rivers for HUNGER.