Set against the backdrop of London’s financial district, Skepta’s MAINS clothing line was brought back to life on Saturday night (Sept. 16) with its debut runway show following a four-year hiatus—and it was well worth the wait. Stars were dropped off in custom-wrapped Mercedes G-Classes, styled head-to-toe in pieces from the new collection, which sits perfectly in between streetwear and high fashion—two scenes Skepta has been involved in for many years now.
Although it was very much expected for a man of Skepta’s influence, the front row was a veritable “who’s who” of British excellence; Stormzy, Little Simz, Louis Theroux, and the list goes on. As the UK eagerly awaits their collab mixtape, Strength To Strength, dynamic drillers Headie One and K-Trap donned matching tracksuits in different red and blue colourways, setting the tone nicely for their upcoming drop.
The U.S. was also in the building, with Givenchy’s Matthew Williams, rapper A$AP Ferg and style icon A$AP Nast mixing with the UK’s leading tastemakers and giving the MAINS team (major props to Ella Dror) their well-deserved flowers. Nast walked the show in a pair of black, reverse-stitched dungarees and a simple white tee; Jme, Skepta’s younger brother and fellow grime star, also hit the catwalk, sporting a dark blue denim two-piece adorned with intricate white detailing.
The spectacle was wrapped up by an elated Skepta running down the catwalk with his daughter, taking a final bow with Mikey Pearce, the Head of Design, and Johnson Orchid, Head of Graphics. Friends and family flocked backstage, surrounding the man of the hour. “And they said I was just a rapper,” Skepta said, to which he recieved a raptorous applause.
The North London-born and raised MC, DJ, producer, creative director, fashion designer and father-of-two’s ability to continuously shine across multiple creative disciplines demonstrates exactly why many refer to Joseph Jr. Adenuga as one of the greatest creatives the UK has ever produced, and there seems to be no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Boy. Better. Know.
