W.R.Y.H
WHO RUNS YOUR HOOD?
Graduate collection
2016
The story behind the effortlessly draped silk and sport inspired knitwear has an elegant yet powerful statement. An important message is interwoven within this collection that was runner up in the Gala Fashion award 2016 and the prestigious gold prize, as well as being showcased on vogue and I-D magazine. W.R.Y.H received a positive response in terms of design, as it is a very exclusive collection, which is desirable for women of all ages, race and culture. The luxurious silk collection caught the attention of the audience and the models walked down the runway with elegance whilst displaying the reinforcement of power and passion.
This collection was inspired by a photographer; Shadi Ghadirian, who is known for her series of photographs based on the ‘Qajar Dynasty” which exhibits extraordinary photographs which also display a political meaning. The ‘ Qajar Dynasty” Iran, 1785, was era where the Turkish overruled Tehran and had left the individuals with no identity under the new rules.
Throughout her work, Ghadirian critically comments on the battle between tradition and modernity for women living in Iran, this coexisted with many other difficulties forced upon everyday life.
The photographs portrayed a very clever message, combining juxtaposition and images that sparked a new vision in the traditional “ Muslim woman”.
The inspiration for the W.R.Y.H collection ignited when the designer questioned herself; “What if this sort of behavior took place in the 21st century? “ “ What would these pictures look like then?” and most importantly “ What would they be wearing?”
The designer created 6 breathtaking looks each representing a “hood girl”. This varied from the strong symbol of a gang leader to a biker and the even a skater girl. All the garments were constructed and developed around the “abaya”, a traditional modest garment worn by women in many parts of the Middle East, including Iran. The silhouette was created with the abaya; it’s essentially a square piece of fabric. All designs used one shape, cut and length to create countless ideas to showcase a collection, which can be considered modest and very contemporary. Although, modest fashion is used in many Muslim inspired collections, this designer presented modesty in a new light, helping to elevate modest fashion onward.
