26 February 2024

Feben shows in Milan

The debut during the Milan Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2024/25, at the Dolce & Gabbana headquarters

The dedication of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana to promoting young creative talents continues with the latest incarnation of the Supported by Dolce&Gabbana project, created in collaboration with Katie Grand: Feben is the new designer destined to receive the brand's support, following in the footsteps of Miss Sohee, Matty Bovan, Tomo Koizumi, and Karoline Vitto.

Feben Supported by Dolce&Gabbana. Copyright © Dolce&Gabbana

Originally from Ethiopia but raised in Sweden, Feben currently has her base in London, where she established her brand after completing her studies at Central Saint Martins MA as an Isabella Blow Scholar.

Feben draws inspiration and influences from every corner of the globe. Her designs, infused with a surreal allure, seamlessly blend matter and form, creating optical illusions that materialize as a fusion of distinctive silhouettes and vibrant, intense prints.

The collection took off in the ateliers at Dolce&Gabbana, at her London studio, and in Ghana, where Feben has worked long-term with artisans in Accra, Ghana, who crafted the upcycled plastic beadwork in the collection, decorating chaps, jewellery and bags. “Sustainability should mean that we can shift the fashion system”, she says. “It’s about who you have in your team. How can we change things to give people access? Access and unity are important values – like for me, I’ve never had access to an opportunity like this one”.

How Speed started: “I was thinking how quickly you have to make a collection. You might use duct-tape if you did not have much around. It is ugly, but I thought, just let me find something beautiful in it! I was inspired when I stumbled on how Isa Genzken had fun making duct-tape stripes in colours. I like finding that balance, on the edge of what is ugly. And making it cool”.

Duct-tape meets tiger-stripe, hand-made textures meet abundant curves, puffer-coats meet up with sexy dresses on the way to a great night out. Feben vibed with Dolce&Gabbana: “I really related to the 90s archive animal prints – for me, that is very Dolce&Gabbana!

And for the distinctive details of the collection, she wants the woman wearing Feben to feel like a work of art: “I wanted it to be super-authentic, with my sort of textiles – my Twist dress, which I started in my MA, is created in a new way, in crushed velvet. I’m a curvy woman. It works for many different sizes. That’s really important, because it’s really hard to find cool pieces that make everyone feel great. I want a woman wearing Feben to feel like a work of art".

Feben drew inspiration from the artist Simone Yvette Leigh, who created a massive statue adorned with spikes, referencing African architectural traditions. "I was like, oh my god, maybe I can make like a soft version of that! We hand- sewed spikes which from afar maybe look as if they’re hard, but it’s actually just made out of mesh".

Feben said: "I feel incredibly honoured to have been selected to showcase my work with Dolce&Gabbana for Autumn/Winter 2024-25. It will be the brand’s "rst show in Milano Fashion Week which is such a privilege and the support gives the brand an opportunity to evolve and reach new audiences. I’m so grateful to have been chosen to participate on this exciting new journey".

Dolce&Gabbana is dedicated to supporting Feben in bringing her new collection to life, encompassing every aspect of the entire project, from providing textiles and materials to its debut on the runway at the Dolce&Gabbana building on via Broggi 23 in Milan during the upcoming Milano Fashion Week in February 2024.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana said: "Feben’s creativity is energetic, vibrant and sensual. We really like her authentic approach focused on Fatto a Mano (hand-crafted): her collaborations with artisans from all over the world guided us on our choice to support her work. We are truly happy that this project has become a seasonal appointment that has given a great opportunity to many talents to pursue their path: it’s a result that really motivates us to continue this project".

The creativity of Dolce&Gabbana can be found in boutiques around the world and on www.dolcegabbana.com. A vast selection of Dolce&Gabbana clothing, accessories and fragrances for men and women can also be found in the boutiques located in the main national and international airports.

Dolce&Gabbana boutiques in national and international airports

MILAN LINATE	MILAN MALPENSA	ROME FIUMICINO	VENICE MARCO POLO	Doha Airport
T0 first floor Opening time: from 6:30 to 21:00 +39 02 7485 7316	T1 first floor Opening time: from 6:30 to 21:00 +39 02 7486 8125	Area E main floor Opening time: from 6:30 to 21:00 +39 06 6595 32334	Primo Air side floor Opening time: from 6:30 to 21:00 +39 041 261 9186	Viale del Lusso Opening time: from 0:00 to 24:00 +974 4022 2133

Edited by Nicole Villa

Avion Tourism Magazine