Runway
Discover a visual narrative that uses historical garments to question contemporary gender norms and ultimately advocates for a liberated identity through transformation and style.
Updated 12:44 pm EDT, September 29, 2025
Published 01:28 am EDT, October 2, 2025
Photo Courtesy: © IFEMA MADRID
Asier Quintana’s new collection, Crisis, feels very personal. Indeed, it isn’t just about clothes; it’s about identity, history, and expression. Presented on the final day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, Crisis carried a quiet kind of power. As the models walked down the runway, the collection had a captivating calmness that was both striking and approachable.
Asier is from the Basque Country and now lives in Copenhagen. Although he trained in classic tailoring, he doesn’t stick to the usual rules. His work is thoughtful, careful, and full of emotion. In fact, you can truly sense the care and intention behind each piece.
Crisis draws inspiration from 17th-century Spain, an era when strict codes governed men’s clothing. Asier transforms those old restrictions into something bold and expressive: oversized sleeves, slashed seams, and upholstery-like fabrics.
Furthermore, the collection also takes influence from Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, a character who lives across centuries and changes gender. This is why the sense of fluidity is evident in the shift from rich, layered looks to simpler, quieter styles. It feels like a journey inward.
Asier Quintana "Crisis" collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid - September 2025
What struck me most was the honesty. The clothes don’t shout or aim for perfection. They feel real, as if they have something to say without needing to explain.
As I watched the show, I felt drawn not just to the clothes but to the story they conveyed, a tale about courage, change, and breaking away from the boxes society often places us in. Indeed, there is something quietly rebellious about refusing to follow rules that don’t fit and instead creating your own path.
Asier Quintana "Crisis" collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid - September 2025
Crisis isn’t just a fashion statement. It reflects anyone who has struggled with identity and tradition. It reminded me that clothing can be courageous yet comforting, a way to express your truth on the outside.
In contrast to a world where fashion can sometimes seem superficial, Asier’s collection was refreshing, honest, personal, and unapologetically itself. It reminds us that the most powerful clothes aren’t the loudest; they are the ones that carry meaning and invite us to see things differently.
Crisis is Asier Quintana’s strong way of challenging norms and revealing his true self.
Kiki Khairy recently earned a master's degree in fashion styling & communication from IED Madrid, following his undergraduate degree in Public Relations & Communication from EU Business School Barcelona. Now working as a fashion editor, Khairy's career path reflects his dedication to the fashion industry. Born in London and with roots in Egypt, his diverse background enriches his perspective, contributing to his success in the dynamic world of fashion.
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