Diotima's Fall/Winter Women's Collection 2026 by Rachel Scott
Diotima began with a drawing from the product visual vocabulary of Wifredo Lam, the collection explores the intersection of Afro-Cuban symbolism, Caribbean spirituality, and the persistent pulse of decolonization.
At the heart of the narrative is the Femme Cheval. A figure that represents the “horse women” and transcends colonial fantasy. Sensuality if used as a tool of autonomy rather than an invitation. Clothes do not just cover the body, they give power. With the equestrian references, they are felt more than they are seen. Riding jackets with exaggerated sculptured hoops and long column silhouettes show a divine structure.
* All images courtesy of Diotima
©Succession Wifredo Lam, Adagp, Paris, 2026
To honor Lam’s masterpiece designs, the atelier avoided simple reproduction. Instead, they sought to “translate its force into the vocabulary of clothing,” through multi-layer fabrications. Gobelin jacquards were engineered so the “face of the fabric appears drained of colour,” while the intense vibrancy is hidden on the inside.
The collection balances the ancient and the modern. From digital print on wool-silk canvas to fine knits that move with the fluidity of a “mane and whip.”
* All images courtesy of Diotima
©Succession Wifredo Lam, Adagp, Paris, 2026
For Diotima, “beauty is inseparable from the political.” The house goes deeper into their commitment to storytelling through a partnership through the Refugee Atelier in New York. By integrating the work of women who have survived displacements, the clothing becomes a living archive of resilience.
CREDITS:
Styling and Creative Consulting by Marika-Ella Ames, Hair by Joey George with Oribe, Makeup by Yumi Lee with Anastasia Beverly Hills, Nails by Naomi Yasuda, Casting by Julia Lange Casting, Music Direction by DJ Jordss, Production Bureau Betak, In-House Production Shay Johnson Studio, Skincare by Moart Lab, Lingerie by Commando, Hosiery by Swedish Stockings, Athletic shoes by Nike, Water by Voss.
Interview by Lily Kalbasz, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
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