The Ouze SS27
Writer: Lily Egleton
Complete this article filling int he details from my screenshots: The Ouze considers itself the makers of “modern heirlooms”. This was wonderfully and tactfully reflected in their presentation at London Fashion Week. Jewellery and silverware adorned royal blue pieces made purely of wax, and I would say it was reminiscent of a home - embracing classic everyday pieces, such as the sink on which you misplace your rings and fear they may fall down the drain; a dollhouse showcasing rings instead of miniature furniture, and plates featuring ornate silver cutlery.
The royal blue was striking, lighting up the space with a cool hue. From afar they will look like real pieces of furniture, but no, they are quite literally made of wax - expertly sculptured to feature every minute detail, such as the plug of a sink; the indentations of a lampshade, and the speckles of a hairbrush. The effect was almost uncanny, transforming familiar household objects into something otherworldly while still retaining the intimacy of the home.
This sense of familiarity extended throughout the installation. Chairs, tables, brushes, lamps and other domestic objects were stripped of their usual function and presented almost as sculptures, each becoming a vessel for The Ouze’s jewellery. Rings sat where you might expect a cup or ornament to be, while silverware appeared carefully arranged across plates. There was something playful about the juxtaposition, but also something rather sentimental: these were objects we recognise from everyday life, reimagined as things to be treasured.
It is an apt visualisation of what The Ouze means by a “modern heirloom”. Rather than treating jewellery as something reserved for special occasions, the presentation placed it directly within the rituals and clutter of everyday life. A ring becomes something you might leave beside the sink, a piece of silverware something you might handle every day – objects that acquire meaning through use, memory and time.
The presentation was also a testament to the amount of detail behind The Ouze’s work. The wax objects may initially appear simple from a distance, but closer inspection reveals an almost obsessive attention to texture and form. Every surface has been considered, from the tiny details of household hardware to the imperfections that make an object feel lived-in. By recreating these familiar forms so precisely, The Ouze creates a strange tension between the disposable and the precious.
Presented under the creative direction of Tobbler, with art direction and set design by Louie Morriss, the installation felt deliberately theatrical without losing its sense of warmth. The deep blue environment gave the collection an almost dreamlike quality, while the stark white plinths allowed each object to stand alone as a sculptural work. Photography by Oliver Webb further captured this contrast between the surreal setting and the recognisable objects within it.
Ultimately, The Ouze’s presentation was less about simply displaying jewellery and more about considering where jewellery belongs within our lives. By placing its pieces among the objects of an imagined home, it allowed the idea of the “heirloom” to feel tangible: not something precious that is hidden away, but something that becomes part of our surroundings, our routines and, eventually, our memories.
