Welcome to team Chopova Lowena! Inside West London’s Harrow Club, a new character was unlocked in the Chopova Lowena universe, and she’s a gothic girly heading off to the pep rally. For SS26, Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena-Irons presented a collection titled Cheerlore, celebrating the sports, symbols, and spirit that unify us, building a uniform for their players on the field and those cheering on in the bleachers. “The cheerleader is the quintessential girl to us: she’s an athlete, a team player, a leader, and a performer who welcomes the spotlight. She brings levity and joy, but she’s tough and spunky. She’s a star who shines with the girls who surround her,” read the show notes.

Transforming the show space into a clubhouse, guests were greeted by giant inflatables, mascots serving pickled crisps, confetti and a selection of higgledy-piggledy seats in which to enjoy the show, be it a pink leather bean bag or a toadstool. True to fashion, an eclectic soundtrack hit as the first model took to the runway, slipping into the signature Chopova stomp to a selection of techno, dub, and a jungle remix of 2 Unlimited’s 1991 classic, Get Ready for This.

On the moodboard this season were American football references, cheerleading uniforms, and the silhouettes of Southern Bulgarian Karakachani costumes, transformed by the duo’s outlandish design principles. The brand’s signature carabiner skirts remained steadfast, but this season, they came alongside varsity sweaters, track pants, jerseys and sweeping faux fur coats, paired with 3D-printed boots or zipped up flats. Lace-up bras and ball bags were a direct reference to the pitch, adorned with charms, trinkets, jewels and pom-poms, while tiered dresses and chainmail garments were an ode to the Bulgarian folklore which underpins Chopova mythology.

The show also unveiled two new collaborations for the brand, reimagining the Alto bag in custom fleece, complete with Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and a partnership with Chilly’s, which saw models sport customised waterbottles carried in leather straps (more on that here). As models took their finale, the stomps, jangles of trinkets and thumping bass immortalised the spirit of Chopova Lowena, cheering on their incredibly cool team of nonconformist players for one last lap around the pitch.