Bora Aksu is one of the London shows I am most excited about season after season. I just love the way he combines avant-garde, experimental fashion with extremely wearable garments. The shapes and fabrics presented in his AW12 show were no exception to the rule, and I spent the whole time writing down a mental shopping list of what I needed for next Fall… Aaah to be a Bora Aksu girl!
Hi, How are you?
Thank you very much Laëtitia, I am very well, how are you?
I am a big fan of MademoiselleRobot.com
Could you tell me a little about yourself?
I am a womenswear designer, graduated from Central Saint Martins BA and MA in 2002 and since then I have been doing my label and showing at London Fashion Week. My first show was off-schedule in February 2003 and then I won the New Gen award four times in row and became a regular on-schedule designer. I also collaborated with several artists, dancers and brands. I collaborated with Tori Amos for her Bee Tour, Dance company, Converse NYC, Arisan Armours, Salvador Dali Museum etc. I designed a capsule collection called “Bora Aksu’s Drawer” for Anthropologie’s American stores. I’ve also been collaborating with People Tree since 2007.
What’s the inspiration behind the collection?
Dr Jekyll meets Mr Hyde – manipulation of tailoring is the main theme. The beauty of classic timeless tailoring and its details and techniques as well as the manipulation of these tailoring techniques to turn it into something new became the concept of the collection. It’s about contrasts, proper and improper, regular and irregular. I love Autumn-Winter because I am into using contrasts of different weights of fabrics. In Winter the choices are great which allows me to be more free .
What do you like best about showing at LFW?
I like the fact that in London, fashion has such individual approach. The trends do not have power in London therefore it’s always unpredictable but always exciting.
What do you like the least?
It’s unfortunate that there aren’t many old fashion houses. I do like the fashion houses with history attached to them and it seems like it does not happen in London.
What’s your favourite look for the season?
Cocktail dresses with twisted tailoring are my favorite pieces. The seperates are also important this season, such as short tailored jackets with bows, shirts and skirts are key pieces as well.
Designers you look up to?
I like the ones that always remained individual designers in the History of Fashion such as Vionnet or Charles James.
Watch the show below