Katya Zol is one of those rare designers that come around every so often. From the first glance it is evident that Katya draws her inspiration from the heart, from her homeland of Mongolia. It is honestly such a breath of fresh air, and a commendable trait to see a designer stick to their roots and be proud of their heritage in the melting pot known as America.
She has taken inspiration from Mongolian fashion and brought it to New York to fit the lifestyle and taste of the modern it girl; a girl looking for the next big thing, something different and new, something tasteful with an edgy twist.Even before the show began Katya impressed us with two different shows, apart from the show of her incredible designs. The first show was an extremely talented vocalist who was dressed in traditional Mongolian garb and sang, what I would assume to be Mongolian music. Although the words may not have been understandable, it was still a magnificent moment where the entire audience sat captivated by the sensuality and beauty of her voice.
The second show was a more acrobatic show. The acrobatic/contortionist/gymnast who put on this mind-blowing presentation showcased to the audience his strength through his tricks. If this were actual fashion Olympics, this performer would get the gold medal in my book.
After these two stellar performances the real show began. It was nothing short of magnificent.
One of the best parts of the show was the standing ovation and the bravo Katya got from legendary supermodel, TV personality, author, and former America’s Next Top Model judge, Janice Dickinson. Katya sent strong confident girls down the runway, wearing long knit dresses, colorful jackets, and gorgeous fur. The theme of her show was a traditional Mongolian girl with futuristic and edgy designs. The girls wore tribal like makeup, and had long ponytails.The beauty behind her collection was the effortless chic designs that could end up in the closets of every trendy it girl, and housewife alike. The knit pieces in the collection were simply stunning, and the best part was that the collection looked comfortable. The clothing was not so tight and formfitting, so if you’re the girl that likes to wear loose fit clothing, but afraid of sacrificing style for comfort, Katya’s collection is the answer to your prayers. Fashion that is both functional and wearable was the harmony that played in this collection.
Although much of the collection was in neutral and solid tones, Katya still sent color and patterns down the runway. One of my favorite looks was the floral print knit sweater paired with the tan skirt with the floral print waist. Another favorite was the leather skirt with the light brown tribal design on the side. And who can forget the gorgeous teal jacket with the colorful pattern. Definitely a favorite for the Fall.
This was definitely a big bang for Katya, and this being her first time showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, and she definitely left her mark, and left us excited and anticipated for seasons to come.
xoxo Johnny Matatov – The Style Senders Assistant Editor
Photos: Molly Torian