Bronx And Banco Designer Natalie De’Banco Shares Insight On Latest Collection “Le Bohème”

On February 12th, I attended the showing of Bronx And Banco’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection during New York Fashion Week (NYFW) at at the newly opened The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad.

The Australian label was founded in 2009 by designer Natalie De’Banco, and quickly gained international retail attention with luxury retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and more.

The newest collection, titled “Le Bohème,” included 26 futuristic looks, each uniquely handcrafted with mixed elements like diamonds, metals, and draped fabrics.

Designer Natalie De’Banco’s goal for this collection was to celebrate the beauty, strength, and individuality of every woman with pieces suitable for an art museum installation.

I spoke with De’Banco to get her perspective on the new collection and to hear about how it will tie into the brand’s retail presence post-NYFW. Here’s what she had to say.

KALEIGH MOORE: What was different about this NYFW?

NATALIE DE’BANCO: Every NYFW is drastically different. This year, partnering with The Ritz-Carlton New York, Nomad was an amazing experience; it felt so true to the brand’s identity. Because of this partnership, it was the first time I designed the collection and show with the space in mind, creating these semi-couture art pieces to be presented as an experience vs. a typical runway moment.

KM: What are some of the main themes you wanted to focus on in your show? How did you do that?

ND: Beauty, strength, individuality while identifying a woman’s inner alter ego and superhero. By focusing on each garment as a whole, we were able to make sure every aspect of the look was uniquely crafted and brought to life through hair, make-up and accessories. Letting the hair and make-up teams take creative liberties made for an amazing collaboration.

KM: What were some of the challenges you faced this NYFW?

ND: What is NYFW without challenges? We always want to accommodate as many guests as we can to our runway shows. This year, the space in the venue was limited. We worked out a solution to create two separate runway shows to accommodate as many guests as possible.

KM: How will the show tie in with the brand’s retail presence post-NYFW?

ND: This type of collection brings me back to my roots of designing semi-couture bridal collections. We have so many amazing wholesale partners around the US and are excited to custom pieces for our clients that reflect the roots of where the brand started.

KM: Any high points or special moments from the show?

ND: There was a moment backstage where all the models were laughing and dancing together, just feeling good in the collection. This embodies what it means to be a designer, seeing each look tie into each girl’s personality. It creates really fun memories for everyone involved.