Yahoo Lifestyle Libertine’s Spring 2025 Collection Goes Down the Garden Path
Johnson Hartig loves a garden.
The designer and creator of the Libertine label said his first vivid memory is of the kitchen garden that his father planted in his childhood home. While he appreciated the herbs and vegetables that were grown, he tried to convince his dad to plant pansies, but his father declined, saying he needed to stick with something edible. “I’d eat pansies,” Hartig said with a shrug.
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Hartig’s love of gardens — and pansies — was front and center Friday evening when he staged his spring runway show at the Elizabeth Street Garden, a green oasis in NoLIta that is on the verge of being demolished to make room for affordable housing.
As has become his signature, the Libertine collection of women’s and menswear was an explosion of color and patterns — inspired by gardens — on everything from flowy, unconstructed dresses to suits, jackets and short sets.
The prints, some of which were created with the help of AI for the first time, included a New York City-inspired design, complete with the Empire State Building and other landmarks, that Hartig emblazoned on a number of statement pieces including patch-pocket coats.
The Los Angeles-based designer also created a print loosely based on “Beverly Hills Housewives” that he used on silk caftans, pajamas and oversize sun hats.
His commitment to sustainability was evident in the elaborate coral print he created, as well as the embroidered red coral he used as a sleeve embellishment on a striking white coat or a short black coat that also was covered with sea turtles.
Signature literary references appeared on opera-length coats and shorter jackets, while crystals covered the denim pieces.
Shoes — a peek at the Libertine x Larroude collaboration coming in March — with the same New York City print put a final stamp on the collection, which drew both Thom Browne and Martha Stewart to the front row.
The walkoff was quintessential Hartig: the models carried signs reading “Save the Garden” in an attempt to stop the destruction of the beloved space. It served as an exclamation point to a standout collection.
For more New York spring 2025 reviews, click here.
Launch Gallery: Libertine Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection
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