Fashion is one of the highest art forms, and ERDEM took that to heart with his Autumn/ Winter 2025 runway collection. Combining design artistry with the essence of contemporary art, ERDEM collaborated with artist Kaye Donachie. 

Courtesy of ERDEM

As a portrait artist, Donachie depicts “abstractions and moods, based on research and instinct.” Her portraits hold a quality that mimics the essence of something more evocative than a visceral and figurative replica that investigates the space between realism and imagination. Donachie uses her paintings to invent narratives about her subjects, utilizing pigment to draw on emotions. 

Courtesy of ERDEM

Using Donachie’s vision, Erdem ventures into a visual dialogue between artists and subjects for his collection. The garments are adorned with Donachie portraits of women from history or of faces unknown and assembled with quintessential feminine silhouettes. This beautiful collaboration between two art forms exploring two versions of femininity captures “shadows and souls” described as “‘footnotes in time.’”

Courtesy of ERDEM

The show began with an elegant slashed-neckline column dress with hand-embodied organza applique. It closed with a skeletal corset dress and a portrait in hand-embroidered organza applique. In between, the runway was blessed with forty-six looks ranging from dresses, two-piece sets, and leather garments paired with quirky shoes with long, string embellishments grazing the floor where the models walked. 

Courtesy of ERDEM

One of V’s favorite looks was the sculptural hourglass cocktail dress, featuring an off-the-shoulder drape in black cloque and an ivory ribbon inspired by Donachie’s ink drawings. Another noteworthy garment that sauntered down the runway was a square-draped cocktail dress in technical organza with a whimsical portrait print by Donachie. 

Courtesy of ERDEM

Overall, the layering of fabric and motifs of femininity and artistry married to craft a memorable line of garments. Donachie’s and Erdem’s collaboration is one of note and demonstrates the ability to combine visions to create art.