Braganza's Interplanetary Ambitions

If fashion is a religion, then Karl Lagerfeld is its God. Lagerfeld's approval is something that exists only in the fantasies of most young designers, but Jean-Pierre Braganza has been well and truly touched by the (fingerless, leather-gloved) hand of God.

After Braganza was selected by Lagerfeld last year to participate in the catchily titled "Australian Wool Innovation Protegé Project", expectations were high for his a/w '08 collection—and he didn't fail to deliver. Working with a predominantly black palette, infused with touches of grey and raspberry, Braganza presented a tight, structured, and intelligent collection.

His subject this season was the human form, and its "interplanetary possibility". With cocoon-like dresses and hooded suits, all in superfine merino wool, Braganza's collection was full of details that toyed with our notion of what the clothed body looks like. Pleats were precise, and Braganza cleverly matched skinny straps and tiny scarves with oversized knits and chunky piping, without making either look out of proportion. Jean-Pierre is one young designer who seems worthy of the hype.

—Alex Butt