- Title: Bora Aksu brings colour to the catwalk at London Fashion Week
- Date: 17th September 2021
- Summary: ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER BORA AKSU SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE AHEAD OF REHEARSAL FOR THE FASHION SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (English) FASHION DESIGNER, BORA AKSU, SAYING: "So I took, like, as we're kind of stepping into this new world, like after a lockdown of a long time. 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. We can more know ourselves and kind of like who you are, just be who you are. So the collection was about that, like the beginning of collection is more about she was part of the kind of society, so she was quiet and everything, like the schoolgirl uniform and this. And then the other part is kind of representing, she just kind of finds her freedom." VARIOUS OF MODEL HAVING HER EYELASHES CURLED AHEAD OF FASHION SHOW MODEL HAVING EYESHADOW APPLIED BY MAKEUP ARTIST MODELS WAITING BACKSTAGE AS THEY PREPARE FOR FASHION SHOW IMAGES OF MODELS' LOOKS ON BOARD CLOTHES HANGING ON RACK MODEL HAVING DRESS ADJUSTED BACKSTAGE MODEL POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS BACKSTAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FASHION DESIGNER, BORA AKSU, ASKED HOW THE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN AFFECTED HIS WORK, SAYING: "That was for me, a hard thing to adjust in a sense that because I'm very kind of touchy-feely kind of designer and even for the stores, I always want to bring the customer into my own world. And, you know, I want them to sit there and enjoy my drawings on the wall and just be part of my own wonderland, and then that's kind of taken away. So it was sort of hard for me to adjust how can I kind of represent my world."
- 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: LVA002EV3ZIOP
- 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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