Peruvian designer Genaro Rivas returns to London Fashion Week with ‘A Golden Shroud', his SS26 collection and his fifth consecutive presentation at the event. Rivas remains the first and only Peruvian designer in history to achieve this milestone, following his acclaimed collections Alchemy of Ashes (February 2025) and A Feast for Crows (July 2025). The catwalk will take place at No.30 Knightsbridge - Hotel & Venue.

Inspiration

The collection draws on two early 19th-century Andean Baroque murals by Tadeo Escalante in the church of San Juan Bautista de Huaro, near Cuzco. Inspired during a conversation with historian Brendan McMahon, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, Rivas undertook a 19-hour journey to Huaro with the support of Muray Premium Treks and the Jesuit-led Andean Baroque Route. The symbolic number 19 shaped the entire project, from research to presentation, with the show held at 19:19 in consultation with astrologer Aitor Solaeche.

Concept

A Golden Shroud reinterprets traditional notions of death as transformation rather than an end. Referencing clerical robes and sacred iconography through tailored silhouettes, the collection explores dualities such as urban and elegant, powerful and delicate, sacred and everyday. “The golden shroud is not an end,” Rivas explains. “It is a process of reinvention, a metaphor for resilience and renewal.”

Craftsmanship and Sustainability

Sustainability anchors the collection. Upcycled denim, zero-waste cutting and eco-responsible washing techniques appear alongside reworked silhouettes including men’s trousers refashioned into dresses. Innovation meets artisanship through hand-applied zippers, resin details, 3D-printed accessories and laser-cut acrylic. 95 percent of the pieces were produced by women collaborators, reinforcing Rivas’s vision of fashion with purpose.

The Woman of A Golden Shroud

The muse embodies modern duality: a worldly English woman who is strong and gentle, grounded and ethereal. She brings layered narrative garments into her own everyday reality.

About Genaro Rivas

Recognised among Forbes Peru’s Top 50 Creatives, Genaro Rivas is a pioneer in sustainability and inclusivity. He created Latin America’s first 3D-printed dress and debuted at London Fashion Week with Beautiful James. A graduate of the London College of Fashion, his Fair Wage methodology for artisan–designer collaborations continues to guide his practice. Winner of The Visa Young Creators Award by Vogue Business, Rivas has also shown at Berlin Fashion Week in 2025, affirming his place as one of Latin America’s most forward-thinking designers

Words Courtesy: IDEA PR
Images By: Tami Femi