With his second astute and assured collection for Ferragamo, a young black British designer became the talk of Milan Fashion Week. 27-year-old Maximilian Davis is being credited with revitalizing, refreshing, diversifying, and redefining the historical Florentine house.
In the opening looks, black and navy motifs were combined to enhance handbags and shoes, which were further accentuated by crisp tailoring. Davis has access to the finest leathers and suedes at Ferragamo, but his clean sophisticated designs resist the temptation to show off, and while at times they were relatively straightforward, subtlety and craft still dominated.
David studied at the London College of Fashion assisting Jamaican British Men for Designer Grace Wales Bonner and went on to launch his own eponymous label in 2020, which featured pieces that looked a lot like his recent offering for Ferragamo. While Ferragamo might seem like an unexpected place for this promising designer to be placed from a ready-to-wear perspective, few prestigious houses offer such a clean slate.
As far as the brand’s business goals are concerned, CEO Marco Gobetti is bullish about turning those rarely memorable handbags into cash cows. Ditto the shoes in that regard. Looking at how Davis fared in the accessories department, there were extremely pointed ankle strap pumps and rope chain stilettos. There were also navy patent mules and a red satin version, lucite necklaces paired with matching top-handled bags, and almost all looks featured Schiaparelli-esque golden orb earrings.
Cody is the Editor in Chief and senior contributor at liminul.
He is a photography aficionado, fashion enthusiast, avid Lana Del Rey fan, and lover of all things aesthetically pleasing.
Follow him on 
and 