Estella James Spring/Summer 2025 Collection: A Capsule of Lines and Movement

All Photos: safashionweek.co.za

This past weekend, SA Fashion Week held its annual Spring/Summer fashion show. A celebration of craftsmanship both seasoned and new. Designers gathered at The Forum in Hyde Park, unveiling collections that danced between heritage and reinvention, But amongst the 23 contestants, it was a fresh face whose work caught our attention. Meet Allegra Nassif!

Born in Cape Town to a Lebanese-Polish family, Allegra Nassif is the creator and head designer of the brand Estella James. As a finalist in this year’s new talent search competition, Nassif made her runway debut at SA Fashion Week with her collection Titled ‘Zenscape’, the collection featured seven looks that were defined by soft, recurring pastels and sweeping curved stripes, each piece an ode to serene, fluid design.

‘Zenscape’ is a portmanteau of the words ‘escape’ and ‘zen’, a Japanese term used to refer to the practice of peace. The meaning behind this urban expression is to travel into a new world or environment that inhabits one’s sense of self and peace. For Nassif, peace is colourful and made of deadstock fabric, i.e. leftover textiles.

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To evoke the sense of calm, Nassif embraced flowing fabrics and soft silhouettes. The recurring mint green and curved lines created the illusion of continuity and movement, while the delicate hint of pastel pink sat softly beside the green, flattering yet understated. Stone and off-white hues were incorporated into each look as a canvas to the playful colours.

Leaning into her signature softness, Nassif paired knitwear blouses with pleated skirts and casual corsets, a subtle nod to her cultural roots. The collection also featured striped playsuits, both short and long, evoking an effortless kind of elegance. Looks were finished with fluid accessories: dangly earrings and a curated mix of beige pointed heels, ankle boots, and barely-there sandals.

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Amongst the calm and tranquillity was a contrasting burnt orange, not exactly harsh but a reminder from the outside world. It was the kind of orange found in the final blush of autumn leaves, and its faded presence across the collection felt like a soft goodbye to the chillier months. Allegra Nassif set the tone for Spring/Summer 25, ushering in a season of whispered pastels, gentle pleats, and silhouettes designed to drift rather than declare. As we await their arrival in stores, consider this your invitation to step into spring’s softened palette.