AREA’s creative director, Piotrek Panszczyk, has consistently woven the brand’s signature heart motif throughout their collections, and the Pre-Fall 2024 line is no exception. This season, Panszczyk has masterfully fused the feminine and the tough, crafting a series of laser-cut, double-bonded leather pieces that exude a subversive edge. From frilled and tiered dresses and skirts to tube tops and perfecto jackets in slick black and lipstick red, the AREA Pre-Fall 2024 collection features exaggerated leather newsboy caps, chunky jewelry, and leather fishnet “chaps” – a nod to the brand’s fascination with subcultures and their ability to reinterpret classic fashion staples.
Panszczyk’s inspiration for the Pre-Fall 2024 collection was firmly rooted in the 1980s, not only in the biker jacket silhouettes but also in the stylistic references to iconic figures like Madonna, Fluff Kids, and Leather Gays. These individuals, Panszczyk explains, “interpreted the idea of a biker in a lot of different ways, treating it as a fetish or cosplay.” This eclectic interpretation of the biker aesthetic is evident throughout the collection, with the brand blending ’80s French tailoring and modern pedal pushers with tuxedo corsages crafted from raw cut satin and tailoring wool.
The floral motifs that permeate the collection extend beyond the leather pieces, finding their way into the denim offerings as well. Following the brand’s successful collaboration with Taylor Swift, which saw their Crystal Slit jeans sell out, AREA continues to evolve its denim program. This season, the brand introduces a range of denim pieces, including cigarette-meets-skinny jeans, moto jackets, and minidresses, all adorned with 3D floral corsages.
Expanding on the heart theme, AREA‘s Pre-Fall 2024 collection features a series of denim ensembles that showcase the brand’s innovative techniques. From chain-linked hearts, an extension of the intarsia-meets-patchwork technique used in their spring collection, to denim covered in micro custom drop crystal hearts, the brand continues to push the boundaries of denim design. Additionally, the collection boasts bold, ’80s-inspired house music prints – a blend of ’70s Ken Scott’s lavish floral prints and Saint Laurent’s graphic heart motif – which are also translated into body-con Lycra fabrics.
