13 March 2008
Mad Scientist in the Lab
Istanbul Fashion Lab Report
I’m reporting fresh from the first day of Istanbul Fashion Lab at the historical Tophane-i Amire. First impressions: fashionable young girls everywhere! Apart from the many fashion students flocking to this first-time event, I’ve so far spotted Ozlem Suer (very cute hair style, by the way). Then there’s etcetura’s Ezra & Tuba (with Ezra having an uncanny resemblance to the new style icon Agyness Deyn); both sisters wear shiny killer shoes in primary colours. Oh, here’s Arzu Kaprol in a white bomber-type jacket, hair done in tight ponytail. We all go inside the catwalk area and she takes her place on front row with Bahar Korcan, the self-appointed spokesperson of the lab. (Is that Bilsar‘s Selman Bilal with a very originally-dressed up young lady there?) I sit next to a fashion editor and we both wonder why none of the fashion critics of Turkey (or whatever there’s of them) is in presence.
First to show is Umit Unal. Creative genius and-in his own words-‘weird boy’ of fashion. On centre of the stage are three men each sharpening pairs of scissors on knife-grinders that they work by pedalling. The lights go off and three young girls with extremely long fake hair join them. The concept is based on The Moirae, the trio of Fate Goddesses in Greek mythology believed to control threads of human life and destiny. By cutting human’s thread to life, they seal his destiny. This is metaphorically played out during the show where the girls cut their long hair with the sharpened scissors. A singer in metallic blue dress and makeup starts singing the first tunes of ‘Sunshine oh sunshine’ by Cocorosie.
The clothes, you ask…There are chiffon one-pieces in white, pale pink; jackets with designer’s trademark cuts, chodhpur-type shalvar pants with threads dangling from the sides. Lots of voluminous fabric, sheer blouses and capes with wide sleeves follow. There are also layered vests, but the most original piece must be the sheer white dress with a face printed on and an actual furly Venetian-like mask attached to the front; and the show ends with that piece. (Photo: Aydin Yildiz)
Read the full report on Fashion Lab and the interviews with key designers in Maison Francaise‘s April issue.
First to show is Umit Unal. Creative genius and-in his own words-‘weird boy’ of fashion. On centre of the stage are three men each sharpening pairs of scissors on knife-grinders that they work by pedalling. The lights go off and three young girls with extremely long fake hair join them. The concept is based on The Moirae, the trio of Fate Goddesses in Greek mythology believed to control threads of human life and destiny. By cutting human’s thread to life, they seal his destiny. This is metaphorically played out during the show where the girls cut their long hair with the sharpened scissors. A singer in metallic blue dress and makeup starts singing the first tunes of ‘Sunshine oh sunshine’ by Cocorosie.
The clothes, you ask…There are chiffon one-pieces in white, pale pink; jackets with designer’s trademark cuts, chodhpur-type shalvar pants with threads dangling from the sides. Lots of voluminous fabric, sheer blouses and capes with wide sleeves follow. There are also layered vests, but the most original piece must be the sheer white dress with a face printed on and an actual furly Venetian-like mask attached to the front; and the show ends with that piece. (Photo: Aydin Yildiz)
Read the full report on Fashion Lab and the interviews with key designers in Maison Francaise‘s April issue.
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