Inside a run-down West London house: silence. Before the shuffled chime of Dilara Fındıkoğlu’s woman ascended the stairs. Her steps hip-driven and purposeful. Titled Freedom is a Two Edged Sword, the show notes described the collection as Dilara guiding us “through her own personal journey of spiritual freedom and re-birth.”

The lack of soundtrack was chosen to make the audience feel awkward, as Dilara did growing up, while each look presented a narration of traumatic memories from the designer’s past. This translated across four stages: trapped child, chained good girl, the funeral of Dilara’s own past and lastly, her rebirth.

The energy was intense as models walked slowly, ghostly and seductively, each channelling their own story. We’re not privy to what Dilara told them beforehand, but it certainly worked, their eyes burned with emotion. The silence was only broken by the thud of heels, the jangle of embellishments – coins, bells, rings and jewellery plucked from vintage Anatolian garments – and trailing gowns dragging across the dusty floor, occasionally tugging on a loose nail.

Delicate layers of tulle wrapped across Victorian corsetry and stockings like spectral memories, while one look featured tightly plaited hair, which took six months to realise. Another saw lengths of hair arranged beneath tulle in a manner reminiscent of Botticelli’s Venus. Upcycled vintage tapestry was given new life alongside sheer bodices and low-rise denim jeans perforated to mirror lace detailing. A Cradle of Filth band tee was spliced with a pink silk nighty, like your inner goth bursting out, while one look was adorned with Union Jack flags – the model’s hair styled into the shape of a Crown – and another was constructed out of peacock feathers. Themes of constriction and entrapment contrasted with moments of sexuality and nudity, which together spoke of destroying modesty and self-empowerment.

The collection ended on a structured dress crafted with deep red feathers: a soaring ode to freedom and rebirth.