Louis Verdad's come back!

After reading Laurie Pike's profile on Luis Verdad in Los Angeles Magazine a few months back, we were rooting for the once successful LA designer (who could count the one and only Madonna as a huge fan) to recover from the financial troubles that caused him to declare bankruptcy in 2007. Everyone loves a comeback, especially in LA, and Verdad's exhibition at The Geffen last Thursday was a great start.

It was a small collection of only 15 pieces created from 4 bolts of black fabric. After losing legal rights to use his name on his own designs (it's obviously a sad, sad state of affairs when that happens) Verdad is calling this new collection "Louver." (LOUis VERdad.) There are currently no plans to produce items from the collection, because, well he has no money and is currently looking for investors. Hopefully with Los Angeles Times fashion editor Booth Moore's rave review, someone, somewhere, will get out his (or her!) checkbook. Moore's take:

This collection was focused and controlled. There were hints of the 1960s and the 1980s in the styling (safety pin brooches, over-the-knee boots, etc.), but it never felt too retro. Verdad walked the line beautifully between tough and feminine, which is exactly what fall is all about. It just goes to show that with fashion, scarcity often does lead to greatness.

Congratulations, Louis!
Images by Adam Tschorn via LA Times.