During Paris Fashion Week, stories take shape both on and off the runway. Between the back-to-back shows, many designers open their private showrooms, an invitation to see the clothes up close, to talk, and to sense their world. Some have already shown in London, New York or Milan, others simply prefer the intimacy of a showroom setting.
While in Paris, I stopped by the Natasha Zinko showroom. The London-based designer’s energy reaches far beyond the city she calls home. Originally from Odessa, Ukraine, she first studied law before turning to design. Zinko graduated with honours from Central Saint Martins in Art and Jewellery Design and became an official member of the British Fashion Council in 2015. Her London flagship WRHS13, a warehouse-style concept space in Soho, and the adjoining NATASHKINO Matcha Café on Brewer Street reflect her mix of playfulness, purpose and pop-culture edge.
In Paris showroom of Natasha Zinko
In the Parisian showroom, a lot is going on. A welcoming team from the UK greets visitors with warmth and ease. Zoom calls run in the background, with quick outfit changes to show the looks in real time. Two rooms on the second floor hold the full collection, each piece hung neatly, every look numbered and ready.
Zinko is known for her double polos, her signature codes and her instinctive play between masculine and feminine. Big on denim, big on double polos — the building blocks of her brand. The theme this season: what happens if you party for three days in a row. The mood, party life with cigarettes, alcohol or other you know what, a celebration of beautiful chaos and unapologetic fun.
Details of the Natasha Zinko SS26 collection
The collection, titled Hair of the Dog, is Zinko’s ode to imperfection, to showing up messy, alive and still sparkling. Accessories take that idea literally, cigarette butts turned into brooches or belts, irreverent symbols of the night before. A collaboration with Havaianas adds a playful contrast, bringing a dose of comfort to the hangover glamour. Her famous double polos return, layered and twisted in unexpected ways. Denim remains her forte, reshaped season after season into new hybrids of wearability and wit. Everything is designed for him and her alike, no boundaries, only attitude.
With an impressive A-list following who understand her energy intuitively, Natasha Zinko’s designs blur the lines between grit and glamour, street and luxury, all with her signature ease.
Image taken in the Paris showroom by author, courtesy of Natasha Zinko.
Discover www.natashazinko.com
