L.A. Fashion Week Spring '04: San Paredes

Paul Magalad’s Spring/Summer 2004 collection under his San Paredes label was as much built up as it was torn down. Magalad combined traditional techniques of the couturier, such as tucking and ruching, with an appetite for deconstruction.

For his latest collection, Magalad collaborated with artist Cindy Suriyani, who designed several textile prints used in the line.

Held on Oct. 29 at the Bamboo Lane art gallery in Los Angeles’ Chinatown district, the show was the fourth for the Australian transplant, who sells primarily directly and through independent boutiques such as Sirens & Sailors and Forget it, Jake.

The collection began with a superb form-fitting ruffled tube minidress. A variety of looser silhouettes followed, often combining frayed edges and bias cuts with floral-shaped fabric gathers.

Magalad’s ambitious enterprise closed strongly with two polyester jersey ruffle dresses in red and black that best expressed his twin techniques of high couture and edgy deconstruction. —C.M.C.