INFRAMUNDO
HAUTE COUTURE 2023 COLLECTION BY ANA ESTRADA
This Haute Couture Collection is inspired in the Greek hell - the Underworld, house of the dead. This world, one of the three realms that makes up the Cosmos, is ruled by Hades - God of the Underworld, brother of Zeus and Poseidon. The looks of the collection are all inspired in key elements and characters of the Underworld, an ode to the darkest and most lugubrious place on Earth
The Underworld was divided in three different regions: Tartarus, the Asphodel Meadows and Elysium. Tartarus was the area where punishment and imprisonment was undertaken; the Asphodel Meadows was for the ordinary souls and the Elysium, home of the heroic, and the region of the Underworld most closely associated with paradise.
The moodboard tries to portray the mood of the collection and the visual inspiration: desired colors, fabrics, textures and sensations
Location
The location for the fashion show is Las Cuevas del Drach in Mallorca (Spain). I chose this location because I wanted it to be the closest representation of the Underworld. I love the idea of having the guests "descend" to the bottom of Earth and be taken around the cave in boats powered by ferrymen, resembling Charon.
Decoration and Lighting
The idea is to portray a dark, lugubrious and tenebrous place with fog all around the cave. In terms of lighting, I want the cave to be mostly dark, with light only on the runways so the looks can be appreciated. The boats will have a small light as well to slightly illuminate the way.
Invitation
In order to reach the Underworld, the dead had to cross the Acheron river. To do so, they had to pay Charon, the ferryman, a couple of Obols (ancient greek coins) at their arrival. The only way to make sure the dead would be able to make the payment was to bury them with a coin on their eyes or even in their mouths.
If the dead had no coins, their souls had to wander the earth side of the river for hundreds or even thousands of years before they were permitted to cross.
