LONDON Fashion Week kicked off on Friday, with organisers dedicating the five-day event saw designers pay respect to the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, while the British Fashion Council (BFC) dedicated this season’s London Fashion Week to iconic designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who died on 29 December 2022.
London-based, Turkish fashion designer Bora Aksu began his show with a minute of silence in memory of the estimated 47,000 lives lost in the earthquakes across south-east Turkey and Syria on 6 February 2023. In line with his romantic aesthetic, he showcased a contrast of gothic black and white lace, crochet, chiffon, tweed, frills and puffy sleeves, topped with crocheted balaclavas and the occasional set of playful bunny ears.
Inspired by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch and the fictional character Wednesday Addams and which celebrated outcasts. “They didn’t even try to fit into society, they didn’t try to change themselves,” Aksu told Reuters, adding the choice of black also took on a new meaning.
Turkish-born Dilara Fındıkoğlu realised a statement asking her guest and followers to donate to the earthquake appeal saying “I want you to join me to heal the wounds of those who were afflicted…” Her show pulls on your heartstrings, makes you feel her pain, and conjures an intensity that makes you feel what she’s portraying in front of you, her collection reflecting the very real emotions many now feeling.
Erdem’s new collection was inspired by his new home had previously been part of an extended institution entitled A Home of Hope for the Restoration of Fallen Women. Some 3,216 had passed through their doors, and their descendants appeared in the murky light of this show.
The show included Erdem’s jet embroidered trench coats in wool jacquard, or his tight wee school marm’s jackets worn with a metallized taffeta bustle skirt to balloon sleeve ruffled and rippled over every second look.
Last week Erdem shared a social media post saying: “Antakya, my father’s hometown in Turkey. A place very close to my heart. Antakya is one of the cities worst hit by the devastating earthquake. My thoughts are with everyone in Turkey and Syria affected by this tragic disaster. This weekend, all profits from our website and flagship store will be donated to @ahbap & @britishredcross.”
