‘Eco and fair’

We are going on our tour in Düsseldorf. Another designer whose collections I found interesting was Viola Ballinger. 

She runs her own business in Berlin since 2007. In the fashion trade show, she introduced the 2nd winter collection. She says she wants to show in her creations that “we are women.” 

 


















She wants the women who wear her designs look self-confident. In her collection there are many options from trousers to the dresses and coats.

However what is worth to be mentioned also is that all the products are manufactured ecologically and under fair trade conditions. In a world where many children, men and women are exploited under bad working conditions which are sometimes described as modern slavery, fair trade is a very important aspect.

What about German fashion? 

Ballinger thinks the German women prefer more classical outfits with traditional lines. 

Viola Ballinger

She says she would like to see more individuality in German fashion world.

She has more clients abroad. Her designs can be found in boutiques in Austria and Sweden too. 

But the main boutique is in Berlin in Fasanenstrasse 68.

Fairy tale

Sandrine Lhostis was one of those who introduced her collection in Düsseldorf fashion trade show. 
 

Les Ours - (photo taken from www.melliej.com)

She has her label "Les Ours" since five years based in Uzes in France. 

Les Ours - (photo taken from www.melliej.com)

Each spring she launches her own collection.

Les Ours - (photo taken from www.melliej.com)

Les Ours - (photo taken from www.melliej.com)

However in Düsseldorf she introduced the label’s first autumn & winter collection (2014/2015).

2014/2015 autumn/winter collection

Sandrire describes her designs as bohemian and romantic. However she doesn’t need to say that. It is so clear when you look at the colours and the designs. 

2014/2015 autumn/winter collection

You are suddenly taken into a romantic world as in a fairy tale when you see the soft tones and the cuts and designs of the dresses. 

2014/2015 autumn/winter collection

The designs gives many inspirations when you wear. For instance you imagine yourself living in the 50’s in the provences of France, having a house furnished with furnitures in pastel tones, sitting on a sofa reading poems or dealing with your garden full of colourful flowers. 

You can even go earlier in the history and imagine yourself runnning with Jean Valjean in the streets of Paris as in the book and movie Les Miserables. Or... Imagine that one yourselves...

2014/2015 autumn/winter collection

The fabrics used in the designs are mostly cotton, linen, bamboo and organza. 

Photo by Les Ours

Photo by Les Ours

Les Ours designs are sold in many boutiques around the world. 

Sandrine Lhostis

In the USA, Switzerland, England, Japan, Germany and Russia are among those countries.

2014/2015 autumn/winter collection

The designs also reflect the feminine part of the women.

Nina’s story

I visited the fashion trade show “the gallery” in Düsseldorf, Germany (31 Jan-3 Feb 2014) where I met many distinguished designers. And I had the chance to see the new creations of many designers long before they reach to the public. I will share some of them with you. Today I start with Ümit Ünal. He is a famous Turkish designer who is also known for the interesting stories he tells in his collections.

The jacket from Nina collection - Ümit Ünal

His recent collection takes its name from the recent history. It is called “Nina” and in that collection his inspiration source is Nina Simone, the American singer. 

Nina Simone

In Düsseldorf, he showed the designs that were inspired from the backstage or street clothes of Nina Simone.

Nina collection

At the end of February, he will introduce the other part of the same collection which was inspired from the stage costumes of Simone, in Paris.

Nina collection

 

Ümit Ünal creates mostly unisex. His designs can be worn by both men and women. However he said that he designs also jeans which are specifically for men.

Nina

Nina

Ünal visits Germany often. His collections are sold in Frankfurt and Hamburg too. He says that he loves the streets of Berlin and the young men and women of the city: “I believe Berlin is one of the cities that my collections suit the best.”

His private atelier is in Istanbul, in the district called Taksim. In the last three years he focuses more on the international market. “My collections can be found worldwide in 40 boutiques in 20 countries. From Ghana to Canada, from Osaka to Chicago in many boutiques one can see my designs” says Ünal.

Entrance to the gate of the God...

For those who wonder I will mention about some of his old collections whose stories I find interesting as well. 

The collection Enoch (Photographer: Sedef Delen - http://www.umitunal.com)

We see clearly the traces of his studies in the designs. Besides fashion design he studied also archeology and art history. Those educations seem to affect his collections. Sometimes he takes us to the ancient Mesopotamian city through the “Gate of God” with the “Bab-ili” (meaning gate of the god) collection or suddenly we find ourselves deep in the mythology as in the collection “Enoch”. He tells us the story of how the nephilims/fallen angels who came on the Earth and chose earthly women as wives according to the Book of Enoch in his collection dating back to 2004.

You can even find the mysterious "Amish" people's effect in his collections.

Amish collection (Photo: http://www.umitunal.com)

I suggest if you buy anything from his collections ask also for the story to know in which time or mystery you will be travelling when you wear the item.