Dystopian Domestican at Alexis Bittar FW25: ‘A Portal’
Bittar’s immersive storytelling plunges viewers into a futuristic world to preview his Fall ‘25 jewelry and handbag collection.
Photography by Karla Tomanelli
As you enter Alexis Bittar’s debut New York Fashion Week presentation, you are immediately transported into the designer’s constructed universe. Greeted by darkness and ambient, futuristic sounds, the viewer wades through the crowd, admiring pedestals lighting Bittar’s elegant, futuristic jewelry and handbags. The stark light shining on the stage at the back of the room guides the viewer to a pink, plush vintage living room staging that hosts an experimental performance like no other.
A Portal, Bittar’s Fall/Winter 2025 Presentation, beckons us into a world where nostalgia meets futurism. Directed by Bittar himself, the performance was designed to take the viewer on a journey energized by 80s and 90s aesthetics imagining the year 2050. Bittar’s presentation blurs the lines between reality and technology.
In a liminal space between past and future, the performance spotlights a woman at her vanity, looking into a portal where a mirror would traditionally be. The woman moves with quiet precision, playing dress up with Bittar’s newest collection. She’s surrounded by humanoid AI attendants who share similarly calculated, slow movements. These attendants, covered head to toe in latex, statement jewelry, and colorful makeup, perform standard domestic rituals like ironing, vacuuming, and speaking on the phone with an eerie grace.
You watch as the woman contends with feelings of insecurity and anxiety and is ultimately always comforted by her beautiful jewelry. The soundtrack shifts from ambient sounds to the ticking of a clock, voiceovers from beauty ads, and fragmented radio signals, nodding to themes of isolation, consumerism, and ageism that Bittar often explores in his work.
After relaunching the brand over three years ago, Alexis Bittar has quickly become known for his immersive world-building. The brand is well known for its viral digital series, Bittarverse, poking fun at the fashion industry and serving as a social commentary on a broad range of timely topics.
Photography by Karla Tomanelli
Bittar’s unique storytelling tactics are rapidly changing the marketing landscape for designers today. Exploring themes such as ageism, sexism, consumerism, and others most brands tend to avoid, Bittar’s brutal honesty and thoughtful critiques have amassed a strong following in recent years.
Bittar’s newest jewelry designs feature mixed metal adornments that blend soft, abstract figures with harsh, pointed lines. Bittar’s choice of material and shape for this collection of earrings, necklaces, cuff bracelets, and rings feel organic yet mechanized. Bittar’s clutch handbags contrast plush materials like velvet with stark, cold metals. Whether a pair of scissors, a freeform line, or large jewels, each bag features a unique statement to elevate a traditional clutch.
As you exit Bittar’s immersive portal, you are greeted by the haunting image of the woman at her vanity, alone but content. Bittar leaves viewers with one troubling question: Is her solitude by design or consequence?
