“We are really shaken,” said Nehera CEO Ladislav Zdút of the political situation four months ago. While the world continues to careen towards an uncertain future, Zdút and team, embracing the hope inherent in spring, landed on the theme of “playful rebellion” for the new men’s and yet-to-be-released women’s collections. The starting point for each was a 1966 Czech new wave movie called Daisies. “The main characters realize that the world is going bad and society is corrupted by power and money, and they come to the conclusion that they have no obligation to behave properly either. They go on an anarchic spree… they stay all the day in their pajamas and they respond to the broken society, not with hopelessness and desperation, but with playful defiance,” summarized Zdút. “The result is messy and unapologetic and the collection channels the same energy.”
A scribble/collage print was the most literal interpretation of that disorder. The pajama theme referred back to the movie, but it also slid into bed with the sleepwear crossover trend that was one of the season’s big stories. This was the brand’s third men’s collection, and the well-edited offering was succinct, desirable, and went a long way towards establishing that this line is about a youthful relaxed elegance, enlivened with unexpected details. For spring, pajamas were cut from a linen viscose, which gave them a sheen associated with activewear, and a slouchy double-breasted pantsuit was shown in a vibrant melon pink. Rather than cosign the tendency for skinny-legged looks, Nehera went all in for fullness; note the “pantajupe” (look 10) and the generous proportioned unisex trousers with a button detail at the bottom that draws the fullness in and to the front to create a more structured fit.