Marina Afonina first launched the brand Albus Lumen the name of which translates to ‘white light’ in Latin, a little over two years ago and while it feels like the designer has already had a world of success, she maintains it didn’t come overnight. “I had a long road to get here,” says Afonina, who originally studied a financial degree in commerce before realising her talents were destined for the fashion industry. “I had a career as a stylist and fashion consultant for many years until I decided to start my own brand.”
In launching Albus Lumen in 2016, Afonina says she had a desire to create something different. “I think the market was lacking [it] at the time. Creating resort ready-to-wear that has a mixture of minimal but at the same time complex pieces based on quality, textures, classic shapes and wearability for different women.” Her most recent fashion show, a showcase of her 2019 resort collection, proved her label does just that. Editors, buyers and influencers took note of the wearability of her designs, which could be worn everywhere from the office to the beach. As Zara Wong’s fashion features and strategy director wrote in her show review last May, it “fulfills the gap that will undoubtedly be felt when Phoebe Philo’s designs for Celine come to its inevitable end” – a moment in fashion that is now upon us, whether you like it or not
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