- Title: Bora Aksu brings colour to the catwalk at London Fashion Week
- Date: 17th September 2021
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) FASHION DESIGNER, BORA AKSU, ASKED WHY HE WANTED TO HAVE A PHYSICAL CATWALK INSTEAD OF A DIGITAL SHOW, SAYING: "I kind of love certain parts of it that we have limited audience and, you know, it's kind of become more personal in a way that, you know, like it can't be, you still have the digital aspect that anyone can see the shows anywhere. But when you come here it's kind of, I don't know, being able to touch the trees and being able to sit and kind of feel the sunshine on you and the chilliness and then see the clothes. It's just, this experience, I almost feel like you can't bring it on a screen, you know. So I think it was very important for me to bring that touch, real touch."
- Embargoed: 1st October 2021 15:25
- Keywords: Bora Aksu London Fashion Week catwalk clothes lockdown
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Fashion
- Reuters ID: LVA004EV3ZIOP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Bora Aksu turned to late Amsterdam socialite Mathilde Willink, known for her bold style, for his spring line of colourful, ruffled dresses, flared trousers, and knit ensembles at London Fashion Show Friday (September 17) as it kicked off with a mix of digital presentations and its first in-person catwalk shows in a year.
In an outdoor garden show, models wore silk tulle and taffeta dresses in hot pink, green, yellow, red, and coral - some adorned in floral embellishments. There were also pussy-bow collars, cropped jackets, and trench coats, accessorised with knotted headscarves.
"As we're stepping into this new world after a lockdown ... I tried to inject this kind of humour and encouragement, and just saying that we don't actually need to limit ourselves with fitting in a box, we can be free," Turkish-born Aksu told Reuters.
The fashion designer was keen to have a physical catwalk instead of a digital one as it fit the way he wants people to enjoy his clothes.
"Being able to touch the trees and being able to sit and kind of feel the sunshine on you and the chilliness and then see the clothes... this experience, I almost feel like you can't bring it on a screen... So I think it was very important for me to bring that touch, real touch," Aksu explained.
Spectators at Aksu's show were thrilled to see Aksu's show in person, with 29-year-old Stella Katterman adding it felt "strangely normal".
The luxury goods industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, with demand dwindling due to store closures and travel restrictions.
The UK womenswear market was worth 26.5 billion pounds ($36.49 billion) in 2020, down from 30.6 billion pounds the previous year, according to market research firm Mintel.
London Fashion Week runs until Tuesday (September 21).
(Production: Will Russell, Mindy Burrows, Marie-Louise Gumuchian) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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