Diotima’s Profound Spring-Summer 2026 Women’s Collection
Diotima’s Spring Summer 2026 collection, Bacchanal, is inspired from the profound history of Carnival in the Caribbean and in the diaspora. Carnival originated as a reaction to colonial domination, serving as a form of anti-imperialist expression, creating a culture that thrives despite brutal oppression.
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“Bacchanal” refers to a wild occasion full of life and party. Beauty, sensuality, and joy are not just embellishments to this collection; they represent a bold assertion of strength and resilience. Bacchanal, and J’ouvert is, in many respects, a rebellious celebration and clearing of oppressive energy.
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Color is the foundation, discord is privileged. A palette brimming with vital tension, we observe the lively collision of magenta, guava, fluorescent lime, and grenadine red come together in conversation with cumin, passionfruit, storm grey, black, and white.
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The sketches of Peter Minshall’s for his carnival theatres inspired the collection’s direction. Corroborated by colorful expression, this collection serves as a haunting reminder of history and reality. The traditional characters of Carnival are reimagined by Rachel Scott.
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The Sailor archetypes don duster coats adorned with hand-melted paillettes, wear matte viscose crepe knits featuring tubular chenille ribs, tunics embellished with thread peplums and knit jersey styles with sailor collars. Among the fabric, new life is breathed into the famous cage bras.
The Baby Doll is seen in tailored buttoned-ups and skirts that have a shredded effect due to the macrame and threaded peplums while closing the show with the voluminous proportions and lightweight dramatics of Dame Lorraine, unrestricted by her coverage of feathers.
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Diotima’s Carnival characters come to life through the casting of Julia Lange. Faces, hair, and hands splattered with J’ouvert paint indicate a morning following a night of celebration, featuring beauty by Kanako Takase and hair styled by Joey George. Nails are decorated with chevron designs or stained in olive by Naomi Yasuda. The atmospheric sounds of steel pans intensities and erupts in the soundtrack crafted by DJ Jordss.
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The collection proved Rachel Scott is nuanced storyteller with skills that are increasing with every showcase and project, growing and evolving the brand’s signature use of crystal mesh knit, taking the lead in the world of modern fashion. This show excelled at transforming repression into expression, just as the inspiration for the collection itself did before.
Article by Seana Watson, Associate Fashion Editor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
*All images courtesy of DIOTIMA
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