10 Breakout Designers From Fashion’s Underground City
Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava
This Georgian brand has a unique beginning. It originally started out as a photo studio called, "Kikala Studio." The team behind Kikala studio produced a series of photos in which they produced and incorporated their own clothing designs. As a result, buzz started to surround the clothes, and by 2012, the fashion line Atelier Kikala was born. Since its inception, the brand has garnered a huge celebrity following. Iggy Azalea, Sky Ferreira, Miroslava Duma, Natalie Joos, and more have all worn pieces from the brand. (Photos: Courtesy of Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava)
A model at the Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava)
A model at the Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava)
A model at the Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava)
A model at the Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Atelier Kikala by Lado Bokuchava)
Janashia
Gvantsa Janashia is a Georgian designer who began her love for fashion at 18. She moved to Paris to study fashion design and styling at the Paris American Academy, however she came back to her roots in Georgia to grow her brand and establish a concept store, called Flabour Georgian Designers, to support homegrown Georgian designers. This collection is a glimpse into her vibrant aesthetic. It's rich in color and explores the use of multiple textiles within one garment. (Photos: Courtesy of Janashia)
A model at the Janashia runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Janashia)
A model at the Janashia runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Janashia)
A model at the Janashia runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Janashia)
A model at the Janashia runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Janashia)
Situationist
It's hard to deny the Vetements vibe here. The unconventionality of the models, the strong, structured blazers with pointed shoulders, coupled with the legging-style boots are cohesive with the Vetements aesthetic. Nonetheless, the brand's message is perhaps what's most captivating. The collection can be described in three words: bold, confident, and avant-garde. Irakli Rusadze is the young, self-taught designer behind Situationist. To give some historical background, "The Situationists" were, in fact, a group of social rebels from 1950s Europe who consisted of artists, intellectuals, and political philosophers. Perhaps the stronger resemblance between Situationist and Vetements is the political/social messages hidden behind the clothing, awaiting the viewer to discover. (Photos: Courtesy of Situationist)
A model at the Situationist runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Situationist)
A model at the Situationist runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Situationist)
A model at the Situationist runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Situationist)
A model at the Situationist runway show in Tbilisi
(Photo: Courtesy of Situationist)
Lako Bukia
Lako Bukia is a Georgian designer who has been making strides throughout the Eastern European fashion scene. She has presented her collections during Tbilisi Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and other catwalks and showrooms in Paris, Berlin, and Kiev. Bukia has an impressive resumé. She received a BA from the Tbilisi Sate Academy of Arts, BA from the London College of Fashion and an MA from Parsons, The New School for Design. In 2012, she opened her first boutique in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Photos: Courtesy of Lako Bukia)
A model at the Lako Bukia runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lako Bukia)
A model at the Lako Bukia runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lako Bukia)
A model at the Lako Bukia runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lako Bukia)
A model at the Lako Bukia runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lako Bukia)
Lalo
Lalo Dolidze is the creator behind Lalo, the luxury line that extended from LaloCardigans, a knitwear brand she created with her twin sister. Clearly, Lalo's skilled expertise in knitwear is exhibited here in a vibrant mix of colors and patterns. This collection brings a sense whimsy and fantasy seen in her feathered sandals, purple sheer trimmings, and white petal embroidered dress. (Photos: Courtesy of Lalo)
A model at the Lalo runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lalo)
A model at the Lalo runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lalo)
A model at the Lalo runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lalo)
A model at the Lalo runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lalo)
Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili
This young Georgian fashion designer is part of a collective under Fashion House Materia. It is one of the oldest fashion manufacturers and retailers in Georgia. Materia has three fashion lines under its belt, the luxury line: Matériel, contemporary line: Dots, and work-wear uniform line: Materia. Aleksandre is a past winner of the Be Next Fashion Designer competition and has a diverse history in designing costumes for both theater and music videos. Since collaborating with Matériel, Aleksandre designs seasonal collections for Matérial that provide a dark and brooding sensibility. He casts his signature aesthetic on suits and dresses by either exaggerating a sleeve or elongating a collar to add a cool, street style vibe. (Photos: Courtesy of Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili
A model at the Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili
A model at the Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili
A model at the Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili
A model at the Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili runway show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Matériel by Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili
Nino Babukhadia
This collection was inspired by Nino's recent visit to Italy where the city's beautiful classical architecture and marble facades reminded her of silk. The lustrous fabric became a main component of her collection alongside velvet. The result is a feminine exploration of utilitarian silhouettes for the modern, confident woman. Having already been picked up by e-commerce retailer, Moda Operandi, we are certain this designer has a bright future ahead. (Photos: Courtesy of Nino Babukhadia)
A model at the Nino Babukhadia show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Nino Babukhadia)
A model at the Nino Babukhadia show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Nino Babukhadia)
A model at the Nino Babukhadia show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Nino Babukhadia)
A model at the Nino Babukhadia show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Nino Babukhadia)
Eloshi
Georgian fashion designer, Lela Eloshvili attended Saint Martin's College of Arts in Fashion in London and started her line, Eloshi in 2012. The Eloshi girl is elegant and confident as exhibited by her surreal, whimsical take on skirts, coats, and dresses. She has a multi-layered approach to her design featuring multiple fabrics and textures for an avant-garde abstract feel. (Photos: Courtesy of Eloshi)
A model at the Eloshi show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Eloshi)
A model at the Eloshi show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Eloshi)
A model at the Eloshi show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Eloshi)
A model at the Eloshi show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Eloshi)
Salome
Salome began her career in fashion not as a designer first, but as a model. She segued into her fashion design career in 2015. She instantly sparked a sensation among young fashionistas who coveted her clean, simple design sensibility. This collection features a soft color palette of neutral colors with a scatter of geometric prints that enhance her modern aesthetic. (Photos: Courtesy of Salome)
A model at the Salome show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Salome)
A model at the Salome show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Salome)
A model at the Salome show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Salome)
A model at the Salome show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Salome)
Bevza
Although not Georgian, Svetlana Bevza is a Ukrainian based designer who took home the Womenswear Designer award from the 2013 Best Fashion Awards in Ukraine. The brand was established in 2006 and has since been pulling in a huge following for her minimalistic design aesthetic and clean silhouettes. She amplifies the "cool-girl" attitude and confidence throughout her collection. (Photos: Courtesy of Bevza)
A model at the Bevza show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Bevza)
A model at the Bevza show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Bevza)
A model at the Bevza show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Bevza)
A model at the Bevza show in Tbilisi.
(Photo: Courtesy of Bevza)
When you think of fashion week, the usual cities come to mind: New York, London, Milan, and Paris. But Mercedes-Benz (who ended their partnership with New York Fashion Week in 2015) has since explored other cities for fashion week. Such under-the-radar locations include Prague, Kiev, and most recently Tbilisi, Georgia.
Tbilisi is a small city nestled in between Europe and Asia. Although it has a population of only about 1.2 million, the city possesses a rich, diverse, but also convoluted history that spans many centuries. The Roman, Persian, and Russian empires have all ruled over Georgia and subsequently affected the city in many ways. Most palpable is the city's architecture, exhibited by its mixture of classical, medieval, Stalinist, and modernist building styles. And this melting pot of ideas presides over its fashion scene. Overall, Georgian fashion is hard to pinpoint to just one aesthetic. It's an amalgam of both traditional and modern styles.
Perhaps this is why the fashion world fell in love with Georgia’s most famous native, Demna Gvasalia, current creative director of Balenciaga and founder of cult-brand Vetements. Demna showed the fashion world a style that was nonconformist and entirely his own and which thrust him into the global limelight.
Newsletter: The Yodel
Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox
See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
This talent carries through with the latest group of designers to emerge during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi for the spring/summer 2017 season. Ahead, we predict the 10 breakout designers to soon follow in Demna's very famous footsteps. Click ahead to learn about them here at Yahoo Style first.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Solve the daily Crossword
