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Tuesday, 9 August 2005 | Levent OZLER
YKK And ITS#FOUR
A Productive Partner Bolsters Creativity
YKK And ITS#FOUR : A Productive Partner Bolsters Creativity
Let creativity and personal talent take wing and fly...
For a company that works in the fashion world, giving young people an opportunity to contribute is an investment that pays off over time. YKK has been a patron of artists and creative talent on the international level for many years.
Now, this Japanese multinational company governed by a strong business ethic is once again proving itself in a more ephemeral, but no less valuable, supporting role: as a "partner of creativity." From July 15th through to the 17th, YKK's products took to the catwalk at the close of the ITS#FOUR competition, an event dedicated entirely to young designers.
Today, fewer and fewer companies are providing the kind of support required for young designers to establish a foothold in the industry, thereby denying tomorrow's designers the chance to express their talent today. YKK is making a difference here and now, by deliberately nurturing talent.
Presided over by a jury of professionals like Antonio Marras, Antonio Berardi and Wilbert Das, creative director for Diesel, 21 finalists from the most important fashion schools of the world (from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, India, UK, Israel, Holland, Poland, Russia and USA) had the chance to focus the attention of both the public and the media on their creations at the free port of Trieste.
This working port, located on the borders of Slovenia and Croatia, makes a suggestive and powerful backdrop for a competition that has its basis in providing a forum for the free movement of ideas and creativity amongst the worlds best young fashion talent.
Demna Gvasalia, the winner of last year's ITS#THREE competition, is an example of such a talent. This rising young East European designer helped judge the garments at ITS#FOUR as well as participated in a special project to create an outfit with YKK zips, an opportunity provided directly by YKK.
During the final night of the competition, this outfit was one of the stars of the catwalk. A specially chosen selection of fastening products supplied by YKK were metamorphosed through Gvasalia's able handiwork into a contemporary clown, wearing a black jacket and capped with a deliberately striking bowtie, lending the entire outfit an irony inspired and influenced by twenties Berlinese cabaret.
Gvasalia's main concept, designed with the aid of YKK accessories is grounded in concrete stylistic methods: the optical contrast lies between the total black of the outfit and the brightness of the shoe laces and frills, creating a sort of metropolitan clown.
Demna has shown that it is possible to structure clothing by combining tailoring knowledge with irreverent attitudes through the dextrous use of the zip.
The creation is a mix of risk and playfulness, a prime example of the way fashion can function as stimulus for thought and not simply as a pure aesthetic. Through his creation this talented young designer has demonstrated the multifaceted nature of the humble zip and forced us to re evaluate its definition and application.
YKK will continue its commitment to the future unveiling of surprising creations that are born when young minds are given the opportunity to blend imagination and pragmatism.
Image of Demna Gvasalia's outfit attached: Photo by Edland Man
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