A BEAUTIFUL DEPRESSION:
TIFARET TELLS US A STORY
GABRIEL MEALOR-PRITCHARD INTERVIEWS TIFARET DESIGNER, CHIYUE, AND FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT HER LONDON FASHION WEEK SHOW IN COLLABORATION WITH FASHION SCOUT.
IMAGES COURTESY OF CHRIS YATES - @ITSCHRISYATES
Protein Studios in Shoreditch housed the collaboration between Fashion Scout and fashion brand Tifaret for their London Fashion Week debut. The studio was filled with photographers, and the attendees waited with anticipation. The lights dimmed, the show began.
"When I was driving from my home to my studio, I always see this kind of gloomy sky with big pipes and all the flames are burning, it's like my environment made me have this dream for this show. And now I feel like this dream came true." The creative director of Tifaret, Chiyue, told me in an interview right off the back of her LFW runway, held in conjunction with Fashion Scout.
Talking about her garments and their cuts, Chiyue tells me, "I prefer to combine the east with the west. Lots of my clothes have draping and have a very precise proportion, but on the other hand, I prefer to have some Chinese or Asian elements. Flatter pattern making, like my skirt, totally flat... So, when the girls move, lifting their hands, the clothes they are wearing have more of a flow." This 'flow' she speaks of came to the garments effortlessly, as the models walked back and forth. They looked soft and light, truly encapsulating the quintessential essence of the Asian culture, which Chiyue always finds a way to connect her designs to with each collection.
The collection presented a mix of tweed and cotton that garnered attention from the audience in their own right. Muted colours dominated the showcase, with splashes of blue and orange adding contrast to the palette.
I asked what it meant to her to collaborate with Fashion Scout, an esteemed partner within the industry. Chiyue responded, "Oh, it's very sophisticated, they have supported me for many years and they have discovered a lot of other brilliant designers, and I'm happy that I'm a member!"
All we know is that the show was a HIT. The clothes told the story they were destined to, highlighting the beautiful depression Chiyue intended for them to present. The dark, soulless factory backdrops she saw as she was on her way to something she loves so dearly, the beauty of creativity. This contrast brought the clothes to life.