The Berlin fashion label MAXIMILIAN GEDRA made its highly anticipated debut at Berlin Fashion Week. More than 200 guests were privileged to admire 20 avant-garde high-fashion looks. The ‘STALACTITE’ collection presents an almost bizarre play of silhouettes, skin-tight latex, and voluminous faux fur applications, challenging societal beauty standards. Body shapes are deliberately enlarged; edges are emphasized. MAXIMILIAN GEDRA intends to provoke, and it shows.
KALTBLUT Magazine Exclusive: A Backstage Journey with Indigo Lewisohn at MAXIMILIAN GEDRA’s Berlin Fashion Week Show
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Backstage Photography by Indigo Lewisohn
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Catwalk photos by Gillian Neumann @lichtpausenkollektiv
The show opened with a spiky thorn coat – a patent leather creation that stands out not only vertically but also horizontally and can be transformed. The model’s body is completely veiled in leather – the collar almost entirely envelops the model’s face, acting like a ruff. A dark techno soundtrack set the tone for the event’s beginning. It was followed by a tight black dress, very sturdy-looking, which envelops the model and whose continuous spikes make it particularly noteworthy. The dress seems like a hard shell, almost like armour against society’s piercing gaze.
MAXIMILIAN GEDRA, with his debut collection, aims to go where it hurts. With genderfluid designs and a diverse cast of models, including TikTok star and model Britney Manson, he challenges the fashion industry to a fight.
Founded in 2023, the Berlin-based fashion label broke away from the obsolescent standards of the fashion industry and made more than just a statement at Berlin Fashion Week. MAXIMILIAN GEDRA is about much more: inclusivity, queerness, the courage to be true to oneself, and developing a positive feeling for one’s own body.
Apart from the extravagant looks of patent and leather, unique creations of fabrics with spine-inspired prints were presented, combined with hand-modelled bags resembling maces.
For the show, models were equipped with high heels and boots by the Berlin shoe label Fernando Berlin and jewellery by the Taiwanese accessory label ZEIT. The models wore unique headpieces by hairstylist Sohko Gasaka, perfectly complementing the collection’s concept.
The collection draws inspiration from stalactites hanging from the ceiling, with their counterparts being the upward-growing stalagmites. ‘STALACTITE’ aims to connect and bridge the devastating gap between feminine and masculine.
The lineup’s grand finale provided a special surprise: an unorthodox bridal look, worn by a male-read model. A synthesis of glossy patent, hard edges, and a flowing cut. The top impresses with a prominent collar leading into a deep neckline, while the expansive skirt flowed weightily down the catwalk. The model carried a bridal bouquet in hand, sporting a grim pair of sunglasses on the nose.
One of our favourite shows during Berlin Fashion Week, filled with creativity and boundary-pushing design, MAXIMILIAN GEDRA’s runway was a feast for the senses. The label’s ‘STALACTITE’ collection left an indelible mark with its audacious engagement with beauty standards and body positivity.
Indigo Lewisohn went backstage to capture the raw and electrifying energy of preparation and anticipation. These moments before models hit the runway spotlight are where true grit and beauty coalesce, away from the public eye.
Indigo’s lens captured the essence of MAXIMILIAN GEDRA’s talent for crafting pieces that not only adorn the body but also make a bold statement—about society, identity, and the unwavering spirit of authenticity in the face of convention.
Runway
Catwalk photos by Gillian Neumann @lichtpausenkollektiv
