HAKAAN TAKES ANDAM!

Posted by Fashion Editor at Large

Back in February I wrote a piece for this blog on Hakaan, solving the mystery of who this unfamiliar name was that had cropped up on the London Fashion Week schedule. (Click the link, there are some great pictures!)

Writing "I made a couple of calls and discovered that he is a 39 year old Istanbul based designer, who won a major Turkish fashion competition. This earned him the attention of Mert Alas, one half of Matt & Marcus the photographic duo who shoot half of the worlds fashion campaigns."

The show was a success, attracting Kate Moss and Carine Roitfeld to the front row, and models included Natasha Vodianova, Anje Rubik, Lara Stone and Natasha Poly. Next Harvey Nichols signed Hakaan on an exclusive one-season deal, and to top off the designer's brilliant year today it has been announced that he has won ANDAM. For a young designer this is like winning the lottery !!

With a purse of E200,000, the ANDAM fashion grant is one of the biggest in the world. Chaired by Pierre Bergé, directed by Nathalie Dufour and backed by the Ministry of Culture and the DEFI, ANDAM has been identifying and promoting the most promising talents in contemporary fashion, in the process contributing to the vitality and international prestige of the Paris fashion scene for over 20 years.

It means we will lose Hakaan to the Paris schedule, which is a shame for us, but great for him, and also puts Istanbul on the fashion map. The iconic 90s designer Rifat Ozbek lives there full time, and now he has a fashion buddy. Go Hakaan!

Now I REALLY hope I run into him this weekend in Istanbul at the Istancool event organised by the amazing Liberatum organisation. It promises to be mindblowing, and I will be reporting direct from the event Friday through Sunday, and cannot wait! The program is totally inspiring.

The five designers who lost out are
Alexandre Vauthier, Francesco Scognamiglio, Bouchra Jarrar, Calla Haynes and Mark Fast

For more on the Andam Award 2010 finalists see Fashion Windows

Photo: Cuneyt Akeroglu/Grazia Daily

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LFW REVS UP: KOMA & HAKAAN

Posted by Fashion Editor at Large

Slow start today. Nothing much happened this morning, but I kept looking at the David Koma at 2.15 time slot, and the Hakaan show at 2.45 timeslot and breaking out in a cold sweat. How to do both? In the end I went backstage at David Koma, got what I needed and hot-footed it to Hakaan where as promised Kate Moss and Carine Roitfeld sat smiling on the front row. Here's a photo gallery.

David making final adjustments to his models before they hit the runway

David Koma models

A rail of Koma

HAKAAN

Et Voila.

What do you think of these two very new designers? For their lack of experience playing in the big leagues I was impressed at the finesse, though I wish designers would move on from their obsession with short, sexy tight, sliced dresses.

Meanwhile the fashion junior at large is at The Ones to Watch at Vauxhall Fashion Scout now; David Koma was part of that show last year so lets hope she discovers some more fresh talent.

I'm going to drinks with ACNE founder Jonny Johansson soon then onto dinner with the lovely Olivia Palermo later. Will report!

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ALL ABOUT HAKAAN!

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

Hakaan with Ramona

There’s a new name on the London Fashion Week schedule as it kicks off tomorrow. And none of you will have ever heard of him. Just who is Hakaan? Where did he come from, and more important – should we be going to his show tomorrow??

I made a couple of calls and discovered that he is a 37 year old Istanbul based designer, who won a major Turkish fashion competition. This earned him the attention of Mert Alas, one half of Matt & Marcus the photographic duo who shoot half of the worlds fashion campaigns. Alas encouraged him to get to London, and show at London Fashion Week, and here he is!
So will this show be hot? Well, French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld is 100% coming to London tomorrow just to see his show. Sealing the deal, at least for the promise of a high end fashion show experience, Hakaan has Edward Enninful of US Vogue styling and has booked Lara Stone, Natalia Vodianova, Natasha Poly and Anje Rubik to model for him! AMAZING.

Having now met the designer, and seen the clothes I can see why Carine Roitfeld would like them; they look like they were made for her. Sexy, short, long, lean and with an architectural element that gives it a high fashion kick.

As I write Hakaan is hard at work with his team in a basement in Shoreditch, doing fittings. He doesn’t speak much English, but what he lacked in chattiness he made up for with some nifty pinning and pulling. I don’t want to get into hype territory here, but this show is one I definitely won’t be missing!

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