Dear Shaded Viewers,
This Autumn/Winter 2025, Paula Canovas del Vas presented a collection that embodies the essence of self-expression and personal agency, aptly titled “No One Owns Me.” Borrowing its name from Italian artist Valentina de Zanche, “No One Owns Me” is a reflection on the freedom to exist and create on one’s own terms.
The presentation took place in the Spanish Embassy and invited viewers to engage in an exercise inspired by Gillian Wearing. Participants were tasked with crafting messages using a limited set of letters, a simple exploration of authorship, anonymity, and control. This exercise encapsulated the collection’s central theme: pushing against constraints to redefine and reclaim one’s space.
Handmade fabric flowers, a traditional Spanish technique, adorned handcrafted Converse Chuck 70, Mary Jane, and Knee High shoes. Each pair was crafted by Paula Canovas del Vas’ mother, Paula, in collaboration with Converse.
Paula Canovas del Vas, the Spanish-born, London-based designer behind the eponymous label, established her brand in 2018 after graduating from Central Saint Martins with the support of the Stella McCartney Scholarship.
What sets Paula’s collections apart is their commitment to sustainability. Primarily using deadstock and recycled materials, her designs contribute to a more environmentally conscious industry. The goal of this collection is to reclaim and reshape one’s identities and in so doing, the world around us.
