Down the Rabbit Hole: Diving into all the Looks from Indie Identity’s Art Basel Miami Runway Show
- Ellen Jones
- Dec 19
- 4 min read
(Video Team @bwadevisuals @jamesquispe_ @1more4safety @frankheyoka)
On December 6th, Indie Identity officially hit the runway; and not quietly. For Miami Art Basel, the platform made its debut at Highest on the Runway, a cannabis-infused fashion experience where creativity, counterculture, and couture collide. Held at SkateBird Miami as part of Terp Basel, the night was less “traditional fashion show” and more Lewis Carroll fever dream in the best way possible.
Produced by Highest on the Runway and directed by Cristina Plinio, the event brought together six independent designers, including Indie Identity’s own curated collection and a solo, scene-stealing show by Miami designer VLACKBOOK.
The theme? Alternate Realities.
The execution? Pure Wonderland chaos.
Indie Identity’s collection drew directly from Alice in Wonderland, reimagined through a dark, gothy, punk-leaning lens. Think Lewis Carroll, but post-apocalypse.
Uniting different independent brands from our store, each of the seven looks blended distinct aesthetics into a single, cohesive narrative about identity, transformation, and self-expression. This was upcycling and 1-of-1 innovation at its finest, a masterclass in creating drama, texture, and surprise.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Model backstage wearing Indie Identity during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
The opening look set the tone: crisp white tailoring from Firelady Fur paired with a sculptural clock bag built from a vintage clock and repurposed materials, always late…always iconic. Look two followed with EASTEAM’s playful reinterpretation of nostalgia: a long-sleeve, cropped white top comprising knitted flowers, paired with matching hotpants, bringing a light, airy energy that hinted at wonder and whimsy.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Model backstage wearing Indie Identity during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
The collection then plunged into darker tones and heavier leathers, a deliberate shift that echoed the descent “down the rabbit hole.” A hand-painted leather jacket and faux-leather trousers, created in collaboration with artist Thibo Villeneuve (of Dream of Desire), fused chaotic painterly textures with sharp tailoring, creating a look that was both edgy and meticulously crafted.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Model backstage wearing Indie Identity during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
Meanwhile, a custom hat with screw spike details (featuring leatherwork by Atlas Artisan) added sculptural drama, perfectly complementing the tactile leather jacket and pants by Metamorphoza.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Model backstage wearing Indie Identity during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
Sheer fabrics, lacy overlays, and intricate handwork appeared throughout, heightening the collection’s illusory, dreamlike quality. Look five saw red rose embellishments drench a dramatic GUZUNDSTRAUS corset top and skirt, paired with custom gloves and statement jewellery, creating a bold, tactile focal point.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Model backstage wearing Indie Identity during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
Next, ruched black leather pieces by Marigold Shadows commanded attention, grounded with a striking necklace by Heart Earth Craft and a spiked custom hat by Indie Identity, blending edgy textures with sculptural craftsmanship.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Model backstage wearing Indie Identity during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
A standout finale; a blue velvet dress reimagined with flowing silk drapes, shibori-dyed sleeves, and an ultra-low beaded back proved that upcycling can be jaw-dropping luxe, while staying true to the collection’s ethos of reinvention.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Model backstage wearing Indie Identity during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
Across the board, nostalgic symbols were redefined as modern accessories: every bag, hat, and detail carried a wink to the fantastical, but firmly grounded in contemporary couture. The aesthetic moved fluidly between light and shadow, soft and hard, playful and punk; an unapologetically edgy mash-up of gothic textures, layered fabrics, and couture-level craftsmanship.
The result was a collection that felt alive, cohesive, and full of narrative tension: a journey through wonder, darkness, and imagination, all stitched together with rebellion, upcycling, and artistry.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Models walking the runway wearing VLACKBOOK during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
Then came VLACKBOOK, delivering one of the night’s most talked-about moments. Known for anarchic, handmade upcycled couture, designer Jesus Pineda used the Terp Basel platform to push his practice even further outside fashion’s usual boundaries. “I really wanted the work to emphasize the spirit of Terp Basel,” he shared, explaining that the collection showcased his process “beyond traditional fashion materials.”
Through collaborations with event sponsors, Pineda sourced unused merchandise and discarded materials from past events (objects destined for waste) and transformed them into runway statements across menswear and womenswear.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 26: Models walking the runway wearing VLACKBOOK during Highest on the Runway at Terp Basel. (Photo by @auroraphotographybysage)
Standout pieces included a layered skirt made entirely from cannabis-branded plastic bags, a white rolling-paper halter top, and even a bikini set hand-sewn with cannabis tree nuggets. “Overall, the event was meaningful for VLACKBOOK,” Pineda said, “because it reinforced the brand’s foundation in upcycling, collaboration, and reimagining overlooked materials into one-of-one statements.”
That ethos (reuse, rebellion, reinvention) ran through the entire night. Highest on the Runway, after all, exists to blur lines between industries, celebrating cannabis and fashion as parallel creative forces rather than opposing worlds.
Indie Identity’s debut was a bold statement that proved independent fashion doesn’t need permission, polish, or predictability.
Sometimes, all it takes is a rabbit hole, a little smoke, and the courage to imagine something weirder…
CREDITS
@highestontherunway x @terpbasel
Photography by @auroraphotographybysage
Video Team @bwadevisuals @jamesquispe_ @1more4safety @frankheyoka
Direction @bycrisp__
Prod. Mgr @jacintaschwartz
Key Hair @silvana.avignoni
Hair Assisted by @lacee_hallet @shortyshady @xoxo.jean_pierre
Key Makeup @brazil.raine @skinforwardartistry
Wardrobe @havannaa @stylexarenas
@nocturnal_nicky @miaisamel @aimeeprada
Venue @skatebird305
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