Optimism being the cornerstone of creativity and innovation. Burç Akyol, a designer whose outlook could brighten the dullest day, has that kind of optimism. Despite the rainy skies on the night of his Paris show, Akyol’s radiance shone brightly, illuminating the extraordinary prowess he possesses. The Burç Akyol Spring/Summer 2024 collection reflects not only his optimism but also his tenacious perseverance and dazzling creativity.
Even when the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Designers eluded him, and his application to the Paris Fashion Week women’s calendar was turned down, Burç Akyol, a French-born Turkish designer, soldiered on. Instead of accepting defeat, he blazed his trail onto the city’s Spring 2024 menswear calendar.
His show was set in a misty, open-air courtyard in Paris, and it was nothing short of captivating. Akyol’s talent in draping, cutting, and sewing was impressively showcased in a unisex collection that pulsed with a heady cocktail of his unique vision, which he describes as an “ Oriental tragedy, which I have always found sexy. ” Tragic it was not, but the collection was rich in drama, defying stereotypes, and displaying immense courage in design.
The collection, aptly titled “ Palm Gardens, ” conveyed an exotic fusion of East and West. It was a fashion paradise brimming with meticulous tailoring, delicate draping, and hints of the skills Akyol honed at fashion school in Paris and later with fashion powerhouses like Christian Dior, Balenciaga, and Esteban Cortázar.
The runway, a unique homage to a desert landscape, was adorned with gold metallic palms interspersed among the audience’s benches. Models, cloaked in sheer knits, mousseline fabrics, and form-fitting silhouettes, wove their path through this ethereal landscape.
Standout pieces included a refined trench with a stylishly wrapped front, and high-waist black flared trousers accented with opulent folds of olive fabric. The collection also showcased breathtaking floor-length capes in sheer black, which moved like shadows behind bare shoulders.
Burç Akyol seamlessly incorporated elements of modernity with his visor-held dark veils, lending an unexpectedly sporty edge to his biblical silhouettes. Further pushing the boundaries were his slinky, one-shoulder knits, and lacy, curve-hugging bodysuits, and long, sheer dresses, which served as universal fits. They encapsulated sensuality, modernity, and the unabashed spirit of a designer who embraces life with fervor.
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