Genaro Rivas S/S26: A Golden Shroud

Death, but make it fashion. That’s basically the vibe Peruvian designer Genaro Rivas dropped at London Fashion Week with A Golden Shroud, his fifth straight runway here (flex). If you don’t know him yet, get on board; he’s literally the only Peruvian designer to ever pull this off, and he’s rewriting what sustainability and craftsmanship look like on a catwalk.

The inspo? Not your usual Pinterest moodboard. Rivas trekked 19 hours into the Andes to stare at 19th-century baroque murals in a tiny church near Cuzco, then staged his show at exactly 19:19 because, yes, there was an astrologer involved. We love a designer who plans his runways by the stars.

The clothes? Think power priestess who raided the sacristy and then hit Fabric at 3 a.m. Tailored silhouettes with a touch of the divine, upcycled denim that feels more runway than recycling bin, men’s trousers reincarnated as dresses, and zippers so extra they could headline their own accessories line. Resin, laser-cut acrylic, 3D-printed flourishes, it’s basically sacred iconography meets futuristic rave girl.

And the golden shroud itself? Less funeral, more phoenix rising. Rivas takes death and flips it into a metaphor for transformation, resilience, and reinvention. Heavy? Sure. But also wearable AF.

The best part: 95% of this collection was produced by women collaborators. It’s not just lip service. Rivas builds empowerment into the bones of his clothes. Fashion with purpose, but still fashion that slaps.

The muse is that elusive Englishwoman who’s worldly and grounded but still somehow ethereal, the kind who can switch from Soho House to Sunday service without changing shoes. We despise her but also kinda worship her.

Verdict: Genaro didn’t just show clothes. He dropped a manifesto wrapped in gold, stitched with sustainability, and served with a wink. London, consider yourself blessed.

Words by Lewis Robert Cameron