Ellen Hodakova Larsson, the 2024 LVMH Prize for Young Designers winner, brought her unique vision of sustainability to life in her Spring Summer 2025 collection. Known for repurposing vintage finds and deadstock materials, Hodakova pushed the boundaries of upcycling, transforming familiar wardrobe pieces into something entirely fresh and compelling.

The collection, titled “Collective Memories,” was a deeply personal reflection on shared experiences, filtered through Hodakova’s innovative design lens. Backstage, the emotional designer explained how she sought to evoke nostalgia while subverting conventional fashion elements. Each piece was a conversation between past and present, blending tradition with modernity to create a new sartorial vocabulary.

A standout of the collection was a shift dress meticulously sewn with sunglass lenses, echoing the playful, avant-garde spirit of the antique spoon top Cate Blanchett wore on the red carpet earlier this year. The show continued to surprise with dresses crafted from dozens of zippers. One particularly striking gown shimmered in gold and brown, creating an understated yet powerful effect that demonstrated how upcycled materials could still exude elegance.

Hodakova’s commitment to craftsmanship shone through in a remarkable leather dress fashioned from old boots, with their toes meeting to form a peplum-like feature around the waist. The creativity didn't stop there: paintings of Swedish landscapes from her home were reimagined as coats or dresses, sometimes still framed, adding an artful, sculptural dimension to her work.

The collection wasn’t just about whimsical experimentation—it was grounded in familiar fashion references. Classic men’s wool pants were deconstructed, with waistbands repurposed into striking dresses. Sweaters and blazers had their sleeves layered onto skirts or shoulders, giving new life to otherwise standard garments. A woven leather skirt, paired with a matching backpack and a simple white shirt, epitomized the elegance of Hodakova’s upcycled pieces—original, yet timeless.

Hodakova’s use of a muted color palette—rich browns, blacks, and whites—allowed the intricate construction of her garments to take center stage. Her ability to merge the quirky and avant-garde with the recognizable and practical made the collection a success, proving that sustainability can be both imaginative and polished. Through these pieces, Hodakova offered a thoughtful and creative vision of fashion’s future.