London Fashion week opened with a colourful bang on Friday with designer Bora Aksu giving us a slice of Turkey’s rich culture and diversity much to Dhanya Nair’s delight
Sunshine yellow, fuchsia palette with a generous peppering of blue and white; this is how London-based designer Bora Aksu opened the London Fashion Week on a rainy Friday. Celebrating his 10th year at LFW, Aksu decided to go back to his Turkish roots and its rich culture. “My spring/summer 2014 collection has been influenced by my childhood memories there. Ten years is a long time and this collection helped me to reminisce about the past. This collection is like a tribute to Turkey’s rich culture and traditional artistry,” said Aksu speaking to AGI.
Aksu who has a penchant for decadence is known for his signature cocktail dresses, flattering silhouettes and free-flowing deconstruction. This collection was no exception either. “There is always a sporty element to my clothes because I love contrasting ideas. The Bora Aksu woman is someone who is a tom-boy yet feminine; someone who will don a dress with socks and shoes,” says Aksu.
The spring-summer 2014 collection featured floor-sweeping chiffon gowns along with structured mini dresses nipped in at the waist and accentuating the hips. Contrasting elements were also found in abundance. Geometric lace and handmade crochet added texture to delicate silk tulle. The colour palette for this nostalgia-tinged collection began with the traditional ‘nazar boncuk’ (evil-eye bead); made from a disc of blue glass. The collection was dominated by shades of blue whilst off-whites were used to keep it light. For day-wear there were Aztec-print blouses finished with tasseled hems and teamed with handkerchief skirts or floral brocade shorts.
“The blue shade of the nazar boncuk as well as the traditional Iznik tiles can be found on the Hagia Sophia or the Topkapi Palace. This became the starting point for the collection. They are really worn out and faded. The colours sort of bleed bringing new shades of blue and white. So you get something new from something old which is like my design philosophy,” says Aksu.
Having set up his eponymous label after graduating from Central Saint Martins prestigious MA course in 2002, Aksu has been attached to LFW for ten years and he feels this platform is true-cradle for talent. “London has a very discerning and adventurous fashion audience perhaps because we have the best fashion school whilst Turkey has a rich culture and textile diversity. So, I thought it would be exciting to bring the two together,” says Aksu.
Bora Aksu’s 10th year at London Fashion Week was sponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Don’t forget to check our upcoming issue for a detailed Designer Profile on Bora Aksu
