For Mike Amiri, the founder of AMIRI, the AMIRI man exists in an escapist dreamscape alive with blissful possibility. Surrounded equally by tropical flora and man-made grandeur, he embraces a moment of idyllic serenity – drawing on the concept of imagination and creativity as the purest form of escapism.

The collection is framed as a piece of cinema directed by Cara Striker and set within the beguiling landscape of the Wynn Las Vegas, a local escape close to home for the Los Angeles based designer. Visuals open on a male model by a waterfall, he surveys this mystical panorama before moving through the opulent halls. 

Suddenly he is joined by a rhythmic cast, moving off one another in harmonic orchestration. The foundation of the film stems from the lucid feeling of summer romance and escape, accompanied by the wistful beat of Wish You Were Here by South African producer and DJ Black Coffee.

Amiri changed the Las Vegas narrative that we’ve all come to know, from glitz and glam to softer, sophisticated lines drawn towards a modern formality. Classic suiting codes are reworked and refined within AMIRI’s contemporary visual language, emphasizing a rich interplay of lightness and ease for today and tomorrow. 

For instance, jackets are deconstructed, and shoulder pads removed, casting a lighter, unstructured silhouette formed in harmony with the body. Imbued with the ease of summer, lightweight trousers with adjustable kick flare expand this freedom, alongside double-breasted jackets recut in relaxed, 3/4 length shapes and rendered in textured satin.

Surreal romanticism, exotic reverie is at the core of the collection, embracing natural tones – deep brown, brandy, burnt sienna and forest green – as a rich palette to paint from. Textures and fabrications are a particular focus, delicate silk Cabana lounge sets and lace shirting intricately hand-woven with flora detailing. A classic safari jacket is reframed as a 4-pocket blazer, and bouclé is cut in warm weather cotton rather than traditional wool. 

Showcasing AMIRI’s imitable savoir-faire, braised patchwork trousers are meticulously crafted with intricate whipstitch techniques, hand-marked and laced, while repurposed bandanas are diligently shredded and braided by artisans into loose summer knits, taking one day to complete one panel and four days for the entire garment.

Fabrics of different weights, weaves and textures are worn together with artful sensibility: paneled sleeveless cardigans alongside supple suede trousers; perforated leathers with geometric kick flare trousers. A modern formality is then realized through unique structured pieces that elevate the silhouette; perhaps a laser-cut suede trench coat, or an elongated single-breasted blazer, executed with the feel and ease of a robe.

This textural interplay is showcased throughout the collection with detailed hand-embroidered stitching, laser-cut floral riffs, and unique artworks created through extensive ice tie-dye techniques. Shirt fringing and rhythmic paisley motifs animate garments and prints are exotic memories floating to the fore: palm trees, exotic currency, rum bottles, hibiscus plants and Aloha sunsets.

A new mid-top sneaker silhouette was debuted on the runway, inspired by classic athletic footwear, alongside an espadrille footwear shape crafted with a sneaker sole. The bags echo the fluidity of the collection in soft and supple manifestations.

Watch the AMIRI SS22 film below to be transcended into another realm: