In a cozy 300-year-old pub, Welsh designer Paolo Carzana presented his latest collection, ‘Dragons Unwinged at the Butchers Block,’ showcasing artistry inspired by strength and ecological themes.
In a unique display that merged fashion with an intimate setting, Welsh designer Paolo Carzana unveiled his Autumn/Winter 2025 collection titled “Dragons Unwinged at the Butchers Block” on a rainy Sunday evening. The event took place at the Holy Tavern, a quaint 300-year-old pub located in Farringdon, London, where 60 invited guests congregated in cozy nooks of the venue or stood outside in drizzling weather to witness the latest installment of Carzana’s ‘Trilogy of Hope.’
Carzana, who has garnered significant respect within fashion circles despite not yet achieving mainstream fame, expressed the weight of his upcoming presentation during a phone interview with AnOther Magazine. Balancing the demands of design and financial stability, he described his recent two-hour sleep as emblematic of the frantic pace of the fashion world. “In an ideal world I’d have started earlier, but throughout the year I’m working to make money… Now I’m in the period where I’m sleeping at the studio,” he shared.
The intimate setting of the Holy Tavern—the design inspiration stemming from Carzana’s experience working late at the Paul Smith Foundation’s studios near Smithfield Market—contrasted with the concept of dragons, which symbolized strength, beauty, and power in a world marked by ecological destruction and eroded human rights. Reflecting on his time near the butchers as a vegan, Carzana remarked, “Even though it is hard to understand what is happening, you see a real community of working people and working tradition.”
The collection featured 15 striking pieces that drew inspiration from the 19th century, characterized by engineered forms that hugged the body and splashes of color achieved through manual application with brushes and spray. Carzana described this phase of his artistic vision as “purgatory,” a transitional state represented in soft, sunrise-like hues of pinks, yellows, and light blues, created from natural dyes including logwood, turmeric, madder, and cochineal. He noted, “The first of my Trilogy of Hope, Melanchronic Mountain, was loosely set in heaven… and this, now, is where we take flight into the end. This is purgatory.”
The palpable beauty of Carzana’s garments—crafted from scraps of lace and linens—seemed to come alive under the punctuated candlelight of the tavern, creating a stunning visual interplay that words and pictures struggle to encapsulate. As guests observed models donning the collection in a dimly lit atmosphere, it became evident that these creations are the culmination of Carzana’s decade-long design career, underscoring both his artistic evolution and the thematic depth of his work.
The evening provided a contemplative yet vibrant space that allowed attendees to engage with Carzana’s vision, marking another chapter in the ongoing narrative of his artistic journey.
Source: Noah Wire Services
