September 21, 2016
BIAAF & Central Saint Martins
12 young fashion designers have travelled to London in order to make a crash course in the prestigious fashion school ‘Central Saint Martins’.
The young fashion designers who were chosen this year: Aroa Fernández, Andrea Martínez, Daniel Santos, Eder Aurre, Janire Olano, Gorka López Antxia, Nur González, Usune Bravo, Yaiza Txakartegui, Igone Cabrerizo, Jon Elorrieta and Maite Quintana.
After a deep research about Balenciaga, the participants created their own collection inspired by the most famous and influent basque fashion designer. The designers learned pattern-cutting, print and garment construction skills in the creative realisation of finished garments and also they learned the exploration of research to produce design solutions, which make an imaginative use of colour, imagery and materials.
Cristóbal Balenciaga
Balenciaga learned the demanding techniques of English tailoring, which became one of the pillars of his system of work throughout his career, The couturier was well known for his elegant sobriety and exquisite tailoring. Balenciaga stunned the fashion world with fluid, curved lines and surprising sculptural shapes that defied all convention. Each of Balenciaga’s collections set a trend and introduced extraordinary innovations built on a foundation of meticulous intelligent dressmaking.
Balenciaga’s experimentation with construction would reach its maximum expression in the 1960s. The couturier used his mastery of tailoring techniques and extensive knowledge of fabrics to conceive increasingly purer and more abstract silhouettes and impeccably tailored suits and day dresses that stood out for their architectural forms. His collections featured historical influences and clear references to both traditional Spanish and period costume. His work is full of combinations of fine fabrics such as velvet and satin, rich jet embroidery and black lace in the form of Spanish mantillas or similar traditional accessories.