Looks from Ovna Ovich’s Rite of Passage collection. Images supplied.
The latest collection from Ovna Ovich is out now with designer Marina Davis drawing inspiration from the ceremonial and transitional times in life. From childhood to adulthood, marriage, and death, the designer has considered the ways in which we mark the passage from one to another and created a thoughtful collection called Rite of Passage that is personal and feminine.
Marina is also celebrating her own professional transition as she extends Ovna Ovich’s reach into the Northern Hemisphere market this season. That means a range that is designed to be transeasonal and versatile with layering a key consideration.
There is a softness and vulnerability to this collection which is full of timeless pieces that verge on the romantic. The designer has created some truly winsome dresses and two-pieces that include the charming Requiem dress in cotton lace and the dramatic Ovin dress which features a robe-like cut and bishop sleeve detailing. Beautiful layers of silk ruffles abound in the Babushka skirt which is designed to represent the life milestones of Marina’s own Babushka (Russian for grandmother).
Ovna Ovich is well known for using luscious ethically-sourced natural fabrics like silk, certified organic cotton, linen and NZ merino which also feature in this range. It’s important to Marina that the fabrics as well as every area of production meet the designer’s principles and are ethical and sustainable.
The campaign imagery the accompanies the collection continues the dream-like feel and was shot by photographer Harry Were in the stunning Tapu Valley. The images feature three generations of incredible women – sisters Valentine and Clementine Nixon of “ceremonial dream-pop” duo, Purple Pilgrims (who performed at the Ovna Ovich NZFW show in 2017). The sister’s mother Shena, and Nan, Mary also feature in the wonderful images that do a perfect job of celebrating the natural beauty of the women and the fluid and ethereal feel of Marina’s work.
Images supplied.