The studio as sanctuary, the artisanal processes as prayer. For his Fall/Winter 2025 collection, Wales Bonner immerses us in a ritual where artist and garment merge in the same gesture. Selah, a term of Hebrew origin suggesting pause and contemplation, lends its name to the collection, understood as stopping for a moment and watching the artist at work. Indigo, corduroy, and gold clasps seal an aesthetic of sophisticated utility, while the mended and darning knitted garments reveal the process: the marks of the hand that creates.
In this exploration of memory, Wales Bonner finds Theaster Gates an ideal accomplice. The Chicago-based artist has been immersed in his conceptual project The Black Image Corporation for a decade. The goal? To celebrate, preserve, and honour the role of Black women in shaping culture on a global scale through the revival of the archives of the Johnson Publishing Company.
Wales Bonner draws inspiration from the archives of the iconic Ebony and Jet magazines photographed by Moneta Sleet Jr. and Issac Sutton, resulting in denim jacquards and cobalt blue prints. In parallel, menswear tailoring extends the brand’s codes: black, brown, and grey-melange dialogue with blue velvet detailing, while sporty silhouettes from its collaboration with adidas Originals redefine style on the move. In addition, the Jewel Mary Jane is reimagined in gold, as are suede flats and leather boots with metallic studs.
Collaborations with English manufacturer Crombie Ltd. and Savile Row tailors Anderson and Sheppard consolidate this symphony of contrasts: a navy blue wool grille coat and a reinterpreted cavalry uniform, where the contrast of satin and embossed gold buttons stands out.
