MIDNIGHT VANGUARD

Midnight Vanguard is the inaugural collection by Juliana Ponce de León. Each collection begins with research into two distinct periods in women’s history. Rather than examining garment construction in isolation, the research considers the wider cultural landscape of each era, from the women who shaped it to the art, objects, and ideas that defined it. Throughout the research process, the two periods gradually intertwine, informing silhouette, construction, material, and detail.

For Midnight Vanguard, the research centres on 1930s Paris and 1980s New York City. Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong, Grace Jones, and Bianca Jagger were among the figures studied within the broader exploration of the visual culture and social history of each period. This collection marks the beginning of a long-term programme of research that will develop through design, publication, and public conversation, building an archive dedicated to women’s cultural histories over the lifetime of the house.