EXCLUSIVE: Celeb-beloved label Retrofête jaw-dropping spring collection at their first ever

Retrofête made their runway debut during New York Fashion Week.

The star studded event was a dream come true for creative director Ohad Seroya who as a young boy designed his own clothes.

‘Retrofête has guided me as a designer, each new season pushing me further in my creative career. To celebrate our 5-year anniversary, I unveil my most vulnerable self yet,’ said the Israeli-born artist who caught up with Daily Mail backstage.

Retrofête made their runway debut on Monday, September 11 during New York Fashion Week 

‘Retrofête has guided me as a designer, each new season pushing me further in my creative career,’ said Ohad

‘I used to cut denim and make my own because my mother couldn’t buy me any. So I used to make them flare, sew them and put patches on them,’ Ohad told Daily Mail

‘Celebrating Retrofête we are very emotional because we came with many dreams, and the dream is just getting bigger and bigger,’ shared Ohad.

‘To show your life story and express who you are is very emotional. We want to give to the Retrofête girl the full experience, and now they get to understand that we are not just a brand, we are a story, and there’s a lot of story to tell.

‘Spring 2024 encapsulates my childhood memories, worldly travels, and late nights spent at fetes along the way. Each look tells a story of my life.’ 

‘The moment I thought to do a runway collection I needed to dig deep inside of myself to tell the story,’ said the humble design

‘Spring 2024 encapsulates my childhood memories, worldly travels, and late nights spent at fetes along the way. Each look tells a story of my life’

The first looks to come down the runway were made of denim.

‘The moment I thought to do a runway collection I needed to dig deep inside of myself to tell the story,’ said the humble designer.

‘I started my love for denim as an 11-year-old kid. I used to cut denim and make my own because my mother couldn’t buy me any. So I used to sew them, make them flare, and put patches on them.

‘I learned fabrication and design without even understanding that that’s what I was learning. All this experience tells the story in the collection.’

The ‘Icon jacket’ was the first jaw-dropping piece to come down the catwalk, paired with embellished shorts.

‘One day when I was trying to change the concept, the Icon jacket gave me a vision of myself when I was a kid knocking studs into my denim and I thought I wanted this to be the main of the collection.

‘So I studded it and mixed it with leather, it’s like  DIY denim; I want to express how you can play around with denim to make it edgy and cool.’

Ohad worked with New York-based jeweler Chris Habana to create a palm-inspired structural top – a focal piece in the collection

To create his latests offerings Ohad says he was transported to an emotional memoir of his past.

To create his latests offerings Ohad says he was transported to an emotional memoir of his past

To create his latests offerings Ohad says he was transported to an emotional memoir of his past. 

A hero piece of the collection was a gold structural top that was paired with blue jeans.

‘I kept seeing this plastic gold palm leaf so one day I cut it and started to drape it on the mannequin and I thought this would be one of the statement pieces in the show.

‘I worked with Chris Habana (iconic New York-based jewelry label known for creating unconventional accessories) and I told him I want this in metal.’

Ohad describes the experience of having the top come down the runway as energy that needed to happen.

‘We didn’t receive it and the model was supposed to wear something else, and then we got it yesterday at 9pm.’

‘Retrofête is about celebration. When people are wearing it, it’s vacation, a wedding etc… It can also be a vibe’

Military inspired camouflage prints that pay homage to his time spent in the army

Chainmail tops and miniskirts in silver and gold are reminiscent of music festivals he attended and listening to world famous DJ, Offer Nissim, under the golden sun

Everything in the collection is a representation of Ohad’s life story.

From tonal hues, serpents and scales, a nod to his arid origins, to military inspired camouflage prints that pay homage to his time spent in the army.

Chainmail tops and miniskirts in silver and gold are reminiscent of music festivals he attended, listening to world famous DJ, Offer Nissim, under the golden sun.

‘Our signature black tie and festive styling is complemented by a launch into footwear and expansion of accessories,’ shared Ohad.

The addition is the perfect extension to the label’s life of the party aesthetic. 

‘Our signature black tie and festive styling is complemented by a launch into footwear and expansion of accessories,’ shared Ohad

‘Retrofête is about celebration. When people are wearing it, it’s vacation, a wedding etc… It can also be a vibe.

‘I want to create more moments like that for people. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep again,’ he jokes.

When asked what he would say to his 11-year-old self, he replied ‘Can you believe that your life your story is so amazing? Can you believe that you have an amazing husband, amazing people around you and a great family?’

Visibly emotional Ohad walked the runway hand-in-hand with husband, Aviad Klin. 

Ohad took his runway bow hand-in-hand with husband, Aviad Klin