Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind the hair at shows like Simone Rocha, Nensi Dojaka and Dilara Fındıkoğlu
One of the most exciting hairstylists in the industry today, Cyndia Harvey’s bold vision and playful innovation combine to create work that consistently pushes the boundaries. Harvey’s crown designs have filled the catwalks of designers from Louis Vuitton to Wales Bonner, and have graced the heads of the likes of Naomi Campbell and Kendrick Lamar.
Here she opens up her diaries from London Fashion Week AW23, where she headed up the hair for Simone Rocha, Nensi Dojaka, Ahluwalia and Dilara Fındıkoğlu.
SIMONE ROCHA AW23
Hair: Cyndia Harvey
“The creative process for Simone’s show is always a joy, as it always has the art of storytelling at its core; the ‘story’ for the season is always the starting point for the hair research, followed by a day of testing out several ideas with the entire team, which is always highly collaborative, expansive and inspiring day to be a part of.
“Simone’s collection this season was very close to home for her, focusing on ‘Lughnasa’ (the Irish harvest), as well as the Pony Kids of Ireland. Elements of this inspiration seen throughout the collection informed the hair look massively. This translated in the form of naive, fluffy ‘no haircut haircuts’ on short hair, as well as the incorporation of a spooky/twisted element that always plays a part in Simone’s shows. We brought the hair forward onto the face with one eye peeking through in the form of a few curls that felt weather-beaten and slightly destroyed texture, and braids that came forward onto the face, again with curled ends.”
NENSI DOJAKA AW23
Hair: Cyndia Harvey
Haircare: This Hair of Mine
“The Nensi girl this season is sophisticated and easy. The inspiration for hair was, therefore, sophisticated but easy! A clean, sleek low pony but with a section left out at the front, like the girls forgot to add it into the pony and tried to incorporate it as an afterthought.”
AHLUWALIA AW23
Hair: Cyndia Harvey
Haircare: This Hair of Mine
“Music is at the heart of this season’s Ahluwalia collection – the starting point began with the question of ‘What is the sound of Ahluwalia?’ The aim of the show was to evoke sentimentalism and memories within the audience, so for the hair we researched a lot of iconic and nostalgic moments from RnB Culture, as well as influences from old-school Nollywood and Bollywood.
“The creative process for this show was very varied. After researching and testing with the team we landed on five or six different hair looks. From there we began laser cutting stencils of the Ahluwalia ‘soundwave’, and making hundreds of strings of beads for the beaded ponytail looks that took inspiration from the bead detailing in the collection.”
DILARA FINDIKOGLU AW23
Hair: Cyndia Harvey
Haircare: This Hair of Mine
“The hair inspiration behind Dilara this season was rituals, repossessing autonomy over your body, spiritual freedom and healing, and ultimately freedom of the body. Taking inspiration from the tulle veils in this season’s collection, we played around with using the lace bases of wigs on top of the hair, giving the feeling of inside-out wigs. We also experimented with the concept of trapping things in the hair, similar to the ‘trapped’ caught between the translucent fabrics of the collection (hair, knives and flowers). This was a nod to the idea of being trapped, constrained, not free. We landed on incorporating said knives and flowers, and my personal collection of precious vintage combs from all around the world, into the hair.
“The Dilara person this season is rebellious, liberated, free.”
