Text By Cristin Proctor Rooney
London Fashion Week witnessed an extraordinary celebration of fine tailoring, contemporary art, and heritage craftsmanship in Interwoven, the latest collection from Banshee of Savile Row. A collaboration between creative director Ruby Slevin and painter Eleanor Ekserdjian, the capsule collection redefined the intersection of fashion and art, offering a seamless fusion of structure and spontaneity.
Hosted at Messums London, the exhibition-fashion show transformed the established gallery into a living artwork. More than a presentation, it was an immersive experience offering an interplay of movement, music, and creation that blurred the boundaries between disciplines.
Alongside the runway display, Ekserdjian’s live art performance became the heart of the event. Against a backdrop of her gestural ink drawings, she painted directly onto a model draped in a floor length, double-breasted white jacket reminiscent of a painter’s smock. As models moved fluidly through the space, weaving around the artist as she worked, the audience became fully immersed in the seamless dialogue between art and fashion.
Silhouettes were projected onto the ceiling, while a hypnotic classical score soundtracked by Madison Willing enveloped the space, lending an atmosphere of grandeur and timeless energy. It was one of the most refined and striking launches of the week, a testament to the artistry behind both the collection and its presentation.
Slevin’s designs balanced the meticulous construction of bespoke tailoring with the organic fluidity of art. Each garment was a statement of longevity and timelessness, crafted from luxurious fabrics such as British velvet, herringbone tweed, and houndstooth wool sourced from historic textile houses like Abraham Moon, Harrison’s of Edinburgh, and Holland & Sherry.
Sleek, understated hair and makeup on the models ensured the focus remained entirely on the garments and their construction. Among the standout pieces, a structured houndstooth wool coat was paired with a matching mini skirt, its strong shoulders nodding to traditional Savile Row tailoring while the shorter hemline injected a youthful energy. A deep red velvet suit, cut with a 1970s-inspired silhouette, was styled with a coral shirt and pink tie, offering a rich, textural burst of colour. As with all of Slevin’s tailoring, the silhouette was expertly structured and cinched to perfection, offering a powerful yet feminine form.
A key element of Interwoven was its selection of art printed garments, each featuring original works by Ekserdjian. Silks adorned with abstract landscapes were transformed into bespoke shirts, ties, bowties, and scarves, ensuring no two pieces were alike. Among them, a striking white three-piece suit was overlaid with the artist’s signature black ink-style brushstrokes, echoing the expressive marks seen throughout the collaboration. The white sleeveless waistcoat and flared trousers provided a blank canvas for the artwork to take centre stage.
Founded in 2019 by Irish tailor and designer Ruby Slevin, Banshee of Savile Row is the first and only fully bespoke tailoring house for women on Savile Row. Rooted in Irish folklore and traditional craftsmanship, Slevin’s work reclaims and reinterprets a historically male dominated craft, infusing it with femininity, strength, and sophistication. Having grown up in Donnybrook before relocating to London, Slevin’s Irish heritage is a constant presence in her work. It is often reflected in her choice of fabrics, frequently incorporating Irish tweeds and linens throughout her collection.
As the final looks moved through the space, the audience remained captivated by the interplay of the artistic performance and the masterclass in tailoring. The show concluded with Slevin and Ekserdjian taking their bow, hand-in-hand, offering a heartfelt moment capturing the unity of their vision. The show was an elegant, unapologetic testament to the power of craftsmanship in all its forms.
With Interwoven, Banshee of Savile Row has not only redefined what bespoke tailoring can be, but has also reaffirmed that fashion, like art, is a living, breathing canvas that is forever evolving.
