We all need to touch grass and apparently our hair does too, according to Collina Strada’s recent Spring/Summer 2025 runway show.
Titled “Touch Grass,” the sustainable fashion label’s latest collection tapped into the popular meme of the same name, while also pulling inspiration from Mother Nature and a need for “inner peace,” per Creative Director Hillary Taymour. As to be expected, the color green was littered everywhere — amongst the dreamy and airy pieces sent down the grassy runway, in the model lineup (the Green Lady of Brooklyn made a surprise cameo), and most notably, on the tips of some of the models’ extremely long hair.
Many of the models donned Rapunzel-esque wigs that literally looked like they had been stained by the grass, thanks to lead hairstylist Charlie Le Mindu, who said that he was inspired by the runway show’s venue. Le Mindu worked with Bumble and bumble to not only create these incredible floor-length wigs, but also a variety of other looks for the show including tiny braids, greasy-cool wet look hair, and lots of enhanced natural texture.
Ahead of the runway show, The Tease spoke to Le Mindu to get more insight into the conception, inspiration, and process for creating such eye-catching hair as well as his experience working with Bumble and bumble backstage. Read on.
The Tease: What can you tell us about the hair look for today’s show? What was your inspiration and your starting point for the hair?
Charlie Le Mindu: Basically the starting point was really that I’m inspired by the designer Hillary. So we had to do some greasy and messy hair—something more natural and easygoing. Then we created the main hairstyle, which is nine different wigs, and what was really challenging about this was the weight of it, because we didn’t want to just buy and get long wigs. We just wanted short wigs to have a lot of movement. But we had to sew everything on a very heavy fabric, so it was really dragging down the floor and the weight was really heavy.
Can you talk about the prep that went into creating the wigs? Where did you source the hair? Also, how long is the hair?
Le Mindu: So the hair is all different lengths. I have a hair dealer in France, where I sourced the hair, so I’m coming with all my hair extensions and wigs, but that’s my secret—I’m not going to tell you! But there was a lot of back and forth with Hillary because to do the green color, for example, she really wanted a special green that was inspired by the grass, but also the collection. So we had to mix so many greens. And then Bumble and bumble colored all the wigs and then I got them back, and I did the stains of green on them.
For the show, there were two different hairstyles. So you have the wigs where we did messy braids, and I sprayed lots of Bumble and bumble Surf Sea Salt Spray ($35) and Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil ($34) on them. I flat-ironed the braids, and then I just left them out so they looked like beach waves. And the other look is basically just pure oil—so much oil and serums to make it look super greasy.
What did you like about working with Bumble and bumble on the hair for the Collina Strada show? Do you have a favorite product from the range?
Le Mindu: Working with them is great. I work with different brands, but the thing that’s great about working with Bumble and bumble is the organization of their people is amazing. They’re fun and they’re fresh and they know exactly which products to use when you want to do a hairstyle. You also have so many options in their collection of products. If you want to do one texture or volume, you have exactly the right products for it, so it’s perfect. To be honest, I always use the same product from Bumble and bumble—the first one that existed—which is Brilliantine ($31). I love it and it’s really versatile.
Collina Strada consistently has some of the most experimental and unconventional hair and makeup at NYFW. As a hair artist who’s known for producing wildly imaginative hair pieces, how does it feel for you to be working with the brand this season?
Le Mindu: I mean, for me, it’s great because Hillary gives me a place for my imagination and my creativity and that’s very important in a collaboration where she’s like, I want this length of wigs and stuff. And then I’m like, we should do this kind of weight with this kind of hair. That’s why it’s very enjoyable to work with a brand like this.
How do you approach creating for runway versus for performance? Because I can’t help but think about some of the recent work that you’ve done with Doja Cat at Coachella with all those incredible hair suits.
Le Mindu: So what’s very different is that for the runway, it’s really about the details. People are sitting very near the hair, the wigs, and the hairstyles and they’re really close to the beauty – even the skin – so it’s really important to be into details. And I don’t know any magazine that can be like, “Oh that was not good, with the way that we place the wigs or the extensions.” And basically, when it comes to the stage, it’s more about the movement. So, I don’t use the same hair. I use different hair, but also it’s very important to consider the place where I sew the hair on a fabric, so it’s very different. One is really beauty and one is really more costume-like.
Lastly, I have to know — Is there any look that you’ve always wanted to try on a runway but haven’t had the opportunity to yet?
Le Mindu: I don’t think so. I’ve pretty much done a lot of them. I would love to just dump a bucket of gel on someone’s head, really. But I feel like I’ve done that already.
