BEHIND THE LENS

Renewal

Emy Roccabella shares the story behind her collection, Renewal

HAIR: EMY ROCCABELLA

MAKE-UP: GRACE HAYWARD

STYLING: EMY ROCCABELLA

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS BULEZUIK

What do you love about this collection?

What I love most about Renewal is the balance between softness and strength. Each look feels fluid and organic, yet refined and current. I wanted to showcase the beauty in individuality, celebrating texture, diversity and sensitivity while keeping everything elevated and wearable.

What was the inspiration for the hair?

Renewal was inspired by the way fashion is shifting towards more mindful consumption, how we can still create and express ourselves, but with awareness and purpose. There’s a collective call for change in society, and that energy influenced every part of this collection. I reinterpreted classic hair shapes and techniques, giving them new relevance and life. It’s about reusing, rethinking, and reshaping - a modern kind of rebirth.

How did you go about setting up the shoot?

I came across the word Renewal in a magazine article, and it immediately resonated with me. From there, I started building a colour palette that reflected the feeling I wanted to convey, something soft, warm and emotionally grounded. I knew I wanted diffused lighting with gentle shadows to maintain a natural, tactile quality. Instead of using a standard colorama backdrop, I chose a curtain I had at home, which aligned perfectly with the reuse concept and added beautiful texture. The shoot took place in the salon with four models, and once I had the colour patterns and overall story, I created a detailed moodboard that brought together all the elements, editorial shots, haircuts, colour, texture, and intricacy, forming a collection with diversity and cohesiveness at the same time.

Did anything go wrong or surprise you on the day?

One of the looks didn’t appear as I expected once it was in front of the camera, so I made a quick creative decision to remove the wig and work with the wig wrap I had prepped underneath. I shaped it into a new look on the spot, then added an editorial edge by roughing up the sideburns and flyaways on top to create that undone, effortless feeling that defines the whole collection.

Do you have a significant memory from the day?

The best memory was when I decided to ditch the original plan for one of the looks and go completely on instinct. Everyone paused for a second, then we all went, “Yes, that’s it!”. It was such a reminder to trust my creative intuition. Those spontaneous moments are where the real magic happens. Another favourite memory is when I was chatting to one of the models about what renewal meant to each of us, and that emotional connection ended up coming through in the shot.