Opening elegantly with a decadent floral evening gown, Barrus’ SS27 collection seamlessly integrated effortless tailoring with high-end formal wear. Translating to elephant in Latin, ‘Barrus’ symbolises power, loyalty and good luck. Founded by Turkish-British designer Neslişah Yılmaz, Barrus has always been synonymous with heritage, drawing inspiration from Anatolian and Mesopotamian history.
Across 25 different looks, Yilmaz explores femininity as a vehicle for empowerment, utilising soft pastels and elegant neutrals in equal measures. While their SS26 collection was heavily based around bold purples, blues and terracottas, Barrus’ SS27 collection is more understated, leaning into timeless formal wear through tulle, lace, flowers and movement. This marks a shift in the fashion industry as a whole, moving away from more youthful palettes into something more mature. Helen Leaderer and Lady Victoria Hervey were in attendance, as well as designer Josh Birch, Lady Amelia Windsor and actress Mirabel Stuart. Barrus is strongly associated with a high society crowd, something clearly shown through the star-studded guest list.
Showcased in Shoreditch, an area almost entirely synonymous with London’s fashion scene, the collection was opened by author and global media entrepreneur Esra Oflaz, wearing a specially created Barrus design. Following the show, the revenue from the custom piece is pledged as a donation to the Türkiye Education Volunteers Foundation, supporting children’s education.
I am very happy to be part of a project that contributes to equal opportunities in education. I am also proud to see Neslişah and Barrus London representing Türkiye internationally in this way. – Esra Oflaz
Speaking on the inspiration behind the collection, Yilmaz explains: “Anatolia has an incredibly rich visual and cultural language, but I didn’t want to interpret that heritage literally. I wanted to take the feeling of it — the flowers, the craftsmanship, the colours and the idea of something continuously growing — and translate it into a contemporary collection for London.”
With a long-standing commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious processes, notably working with recycled fabrics within previous collections, Barrus focusses on small-batch couture, rather than mass produced ready-to-wear garments, enabling the brand to reduce their environmental impact.
Highlights of the SS27 collection include an off-the-shoulder pink sequined evening gown, styled with a loosely braided updo, alongside a sage green sequined above-the-knee dress that proved to be one of the most popular with the audience. Featuring an open back and halterneck-style top, the dress was styled with silver heels and hoop earrings, emphasising the shift towards practical yet stylish fashion. The collection also included four suit-style outfits, three of which paired corset tops with fitted trousers. Only one blazer was showcased: a butter yellow, sequined piece, of course, matched with non-sequined trousers in a similar style. The trousers featured a vertical stripe of sequins in the same style as the blazer, reflecting a detail that has become increasingly frequent on the runway.
