In 2003, Brazilian fashion label Neon presented its first runway show in designer Dudu Bertholini’s own living room to an intimate audience of 30 people. A decade later, and under the creative direction of Bertholini and Rita Comparato, Neon is far from being a small affair on many fronts, having gained the respect of fashion journalists in its home country and a reputation for exuberant and playful juxtaposition of bright colour and patterns with flowing silhouettes.
Inspired by the concept of global ethnicity, Brazilian culture and the far-flung territories of China, India, Vietnam, Neon’s Spring/Summer 2014 womenswear collection (recently presented during São Paulo Fashion Week) narrated a veritable journey through time and place by exploring bright colours and sinuous shapes. A range of garments such as pants, tunics, blouses, coats and swimsuits came in voluminous caftan shapes that evoked 1980s’ fashion with high waists and mandarin collars featuring prominently. Neon’s traditional fluid silhouettes were further highlighted by using light fabrics such as silk, satin, crepe, linen, Lycra and jersey in a palette that included orange, pink, yellow, green, purple, silver and black, as well as the prints ‘India’ by Andrés Sandoval, ‘Urban Flowers’ by Yassin Lahmar, ‘Samba’ by Fábio Kawalis and ‘Music Sheet’ by Maria Manuela de Andrade. In addition, a range of accessories designed by Christopher Alexander and inspired by the work of American sculptor Alexander Calder, complemented the collection very adroitly.