Photos by Matthew Passiglia
If the headline images aren’t enough, your interest should be highly piqued for designer Max Gengos. Named as one of the 10 New Labels to Know at NYFW by Elle Magazine, the former Calvin Klein phenom’s debut collection is all about modern luxury. Neo-Tropico brings forth a fresh color palette of citrine, coral and sunlit sand in addition to core neutrals of black and white.
Hailing from Greek heritage by way of Australia, Gengos (pronounced jenn-joss) has an innate ability to transform the female form to mythical proportions. As a Greek lady named after a muse, I can attest: his silhouettes contour the body, his necklines highlight and plunge, and his hemlines appear infinite. The result is modern, sensual and strong – the Gengos woman takes no prisoners, but does so with finesse and elegance.
Gengos is as dedicated to his craft as he is gracious. At his showing, he humbly explained his design concept while giving me an up-close look at his impeccable fabrics. A column strapless dress shimmered like the sands of a Grecian beach. His coral floor length gown featured dramatic slits and micro straps that fell delicately on the shoulder, giving way to supreme sensuality.
Of particular interest is Gengos’ attention to ethical production, a concept he dubs as Responsible Luxury. All of the designer’s fabrics are sourced from mills in Italy, France and the US that use photovoltaic cells for renewable energy. His manufacturing process incorporates ‘slow tech’ – high quality production that yields minimal waste, resulting in garments built to last.
To learn more about the designer and view his full S/S16 line, click here.