The recent London Fashion Week saw Turkish designer Dilara F?nd?ko?lu present a standout collection that challenges the conventions of fashion while paying homage to mythological themes.
London Fashion Week concluded recently with an impactful collection presented by Daniel Lee for Burberry, which is widely speculated to be his last for the brand. The week featured a variety of designers, including Richard Quinn, Di Petsa, Conner Ives, Erdem, and Simone Rocha, who have all garnered attention in the fashion community. However, the relevance of London as a fashion capital has come into question, with many prominent designers favoring Paris for their presentations.
Turkish designer Dilara F?nd?ko?lu, whose collection “Venus From Chaos” stood out during the event, expressed her view that the fashion calendar lacks a sense of fantasy. According to F?nd?ko?lu, her creation was influenced by mythology and the goddess Venus, symbolizing female empowerment. London Fashion Week has historically been a platform for fashion statements, provocation, and political messages, and F?nd?ko?lu fits this mold. She has even been compared to fashion icon Alexander McQueen, with some suggesting she would be a strong candidate for his brand. However, she aims to carve her own path and establish her unique identity in the industry.
F?nd?ko?lu graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2015 and has exhibited a rebellious spirit since then; notably, she orchestrated a guerilla fashion show after not being included in official student presentations. This rebellious nature also manifested in her absence from the official fashion calendar last year, as she prefers to unveil new collections only when she feels they are ready. This approach starkly contrasts the fast-paced pressures that many designers face in the industry and has resulted in runway presentations of noteworthy quality.
In her latest show, holding an ambiance reminiscent of a 19th-century warehouse, F?nd?ko?lu instructed models to project an air of elegance tinged with boredom, embodying the persona of “medieval rock stars.” The collection cleverly melds elements from the Victorian era—such as corsets, lace details, and ruffles—into a modern context. Artful appliqués, including prominent safety pins and the recurring shell motif as a nod to the birth of Venus, highlight her craftsmanship. One of the standout pieces featured a detailed corset adorned with shells and pearls, evoking Botticelli’s depiction of Venus, with models showcasing visually arresting creations.
The collection culminated in a striking leather dress embellished with a bold red tattoo pattern, marking a memorable close to what many are calling one of the best shows of her career. F?nd?ko?lu stresses that her work should be distinguished from high street fashion, emphasizing the divide between high-fashion fantasy—which invites escapism—and more practical, accessible designs. “There is definitely a boundary between high-fashion fantasy in which people want to live and dream and brands with a ‘simpler’ aesthetic that can also be found on the high street,” she stated during her show.
This latest collection has resonated within the fashion world and highlighted F?nd?ko?lu’s capability to provoke thought and catapult discussions about the nature of fashion and its cultural significance.
Source: Noah Wire Services
