Adelaide’s newest fashion label, Shador, has made an intense entrance into the local fashion community, just in time for the upcoming Adelaide Fashion Festival. This Tuesday night, the Norwood Concert Hall set the grandiose scene for Shador to burst into the arena.

A theatrical spotlight-laden runway set the scene for a very dramatic show, featuring a soundtrack to the tune of Nicki Minaj’s “Ganja Burn” and a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”. The final dress to walk sashayed the length of the runway before it made its way to the stage, whereupon red curtains pulled back to reveal a powerful editorial-style exhibition of the entire collection.

As for the dresses themselves, the gowns featured included bridal wear, formal evening gowns, and slightly more relaxed cocktail dresses. Highlights included a peachy tutu skirt to rival Carrie Bradshaw and a classic silk bridal gown with a luxurious full skirt.

The separates on show were an elegant standout in the collection, showcasing a wearable, versatile, and modern version of formal wear. The wedding gowns featured lavish fabrics and detailed beading, and the neat formal tops were paired with generous midi skirts.

Above all, the collection showcased great cuts. The necklines were flattering, the hemlines varied from classic to contemporary, and the fit was true. The designer behind Shador definitely knows what they’re doing.

Shador gave us a glimpse into what appears to be a strong and welcome addition to the ever-growing list of Adelaide designers.

Finesse Models provided the evening’s talent, a pool of diverse women with bodies of all shapes and sizes, and Persian Creation presented a grazing table that seemed to never end as you walked around it.

With a mysteriously blank website, and a show that let the clothes speak for themselves, we don’t know all that much about this designer yet, but we’re very excited to see more from Shador.

Words by Liberty Petersen