Whimsical Worlds: Inside Florentina Leitner’s Enchanted Spring/Summer 2025 Collection

A Madonna of the Unicorn, one of the ethereal designs in the new collection by Florentina Leitner, shown in Paris. Main photograph above by Andrea Heinsohn.

Florentina Leitner's Spring/Summer 2025 collection is a homage to the enchanting world of The Last Unicorn. Inspired by the beloved 1982 animated film, the designer gave her runway a nostalgic ambiance combined with avant-garde flair. Her storytelling and sense of whimsy adds to the contrast of otherworldliness and contemporaneity in her work, writes Isabella Lancellotti. Photographs by Andrea Heinsohn

Fiery red symbolizing passion

and strength was a potent

motif in the collection

THE new collection by Florentina Leitner draws directly from the visual and emotional richness of The Last Unicorn, taking key moments from the unicorn’s journey as creative touchpoints. Leitner’s pieces are alive with the same ethereal charm and mystique, from the unicorn’s search for her lost kind to her transformative experiences as a human.  

These ideas are translated into the designs through an interesting use of materials: delicate lace and shimmering silks evoke a sense of fragility, while bold, screen-printed designs and laser-cut details echo the imagery of the Red Bull’s fiery menace.

Leitner’s use of unicorn-inspired prints, along with intricate 3D embellishments, immerses viewers in a world that is both mythological and contemporary, a world where fantasy is intertwined with high fashion. The designer's ability to weave a complex narrative into her creations is what sets her apart. 

Through her artful use of fabrics and forms, Leitner brings the film to life on the runway, capturing the dreamlike quality and the emotional depths of its story. “The Last Unicorn was a defining part of my childhood, and with this collection, I wanted to revive that sense of wonder and translate it into today’s fashion,” the designer explains. “It’s a dream to bring that magic back for a new generation while still honouring the film’s timeless beauty.” 

“The Last Unicorn was a defining part of my childhood, and with this collection, I wanted to revive that sense of wonder and translate it into today’s fashion.”

The Last Unicorn was the 

inspiration for the collection

Florentina Leitner’s collaboration with Peter S. Beagle’s team ensures ensured she had a real grasp of the story. Some pieces in the collection speak to the power of transformation and the quest for identity, much like the unicorn’s own journey. Diaphanous dresses contrast with more structured silhouettes, reflecting the duality of the character. the designer says. 

Bold dashes of color, inspired by the vivid animation of the original film, are strategically placed against softer, pastel hues to emphasize the tension between innocence and strength. 

Known for her signature floral motifs and feminine flourishes, Leitner’s collection is both playful and refined. Her expert craftsmanship is visible in details, with lightweight pieces that feel as though they could float off the runway.

The designer’s use of 3D flowers ~ a hallmark of her previous collections ~ is particularly striking in this offering, enhancing the fairy-tale allure while reinforcing the natural beauty central to the unicorn’s narrative. 

The result is a collection that is unmistakably Leitner: imaginative, daring, and rooted in an understanding of both fashion and storytelling. Since launching her eponymous brand in 2022, after graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Leitner has made a name for herself with her distinct blend of semi-couture craftsmanship, whimsical femininity, and artistic vision. 

Known for her signature floral motifs and feminine flourishes, Leitner’s collection is both playful and refined

Unicorns and quixotic headscarves

added to the sense of  otherworldliness

Based in Antwerp, her ready-to-wear collections are produced in small artisanal factories in Italy. Leitner’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection reaffirms her place as a designer to watch, offering not only clothes but her own, particular world view.

In a fashion landscape that often feels dominated by trends and fleeting moments, Florentina Leitner’s latest collection stands out for its connection to a beloved story and its commitment to savoir faire. 

The SS25 line invites us to rediscover the sense of wonder we felt as children and to incorporate that kind of forgotten "magic" as part of our modern identity. Through this collection, Florentina Leitner wants to make fashion a potent form of storytelling, one that allows us to explore the complexities of who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going.

Scroll down to see more highlights from the collection in Paris