Biography

London-based Turkish designer, Bora Aksu received his first acclaim when he graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins MA course in 2002. Quoted as "the star of the show" by broadsheets such as The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, Aksu’s collection attracted not just the press but Domenico Dolce and Stephano Gabbana who purchased pieces as inspirational items for themselves. This same collection also caught the attention of the ARG equation group where he won a sponsorship award from them, giving him the opportunity to make his debut off-schedule catwalk show at London Fashion Week, February 2003.

Once again, Aksu’s show received raving reviews and an impressive turnout. Suzy Menkes was in attendance and CNN introduced him as the rising new name. His show was also quoted as "one of the top five shows in London" by the Guardian. Aksu went on to received the Top Shop New Generation Award and was subsequently placed on the official London Fashion Week calendar for the following season. His Spring/Summer 04 collection drew inspiration from everyday objects such as stripy duvet covers, tea towels and granny underpants which he reworked into entirely new, feminine and wearable shapes. The collection created such a stir that it caught the attention of leading department stores including Liberty, Selfridges and Barneys.

Receiving the Top Shop New Generation Award for a second time, Aksu’s Autumn/Winter 04 collection entitled Disciples was a vision of nomadic but contemporary journey into fashion where he matched complex cutting with minimal seaming and juxtapose soft and stiff fabrics with delicate details.

For his Spring/Summer 05 Living Waters collection, Aksu was presented with the Top Shop New Generation Award for the third time. The 70s glamour inspired and romantic collection had Vogue quoting "The buzz around Top Shop-sponsored New Generation designer Bora Aksu is ever-growing and with this latest Biba-esque collection, it's easy to see why. Multi-layered asymmetric chiffons in the season's favourite mint flavour, lemon, oyster and orange floated effortlessly down the catwalk screaming 'wear me and feel retro-fabulous'."

With this collection, Aksu defined his style in London and Tori Amos bought up the entire collection for her Bee Keeper world tour.

With the support of a fourth Top Shop New Gen Award, Aksu presented his Autumn/Winter 05 Promised Land collection at London Fashion Week, prominently showing an accessories range on the catwalk.

Through the collaboration with the leading London contemporary dance company, the Cathy Marston Project, Aksu was inspired by the challenges he met with designing their costumes. Exploring the idea of movement, stage presence and maintenance of beauty, he channelled them as a theme for his Spring/Summer 07 show. Taking his collection further by collaborating with Converse, Aksu fused the everyday sneaker and its sporty elements with couture techniques to produce a collection that is fluid, casual, tailored, glamorous but nevertheless complex.

Working with the Artisan Armour group who produced items for epic films such as Troy, Alexander and King Arthur, Aksu finished his Autumn/Winter 07 collection with one-off leather and metallic sculptural body pieces.

With 10 shows under his belt, his collabrations and projects with various artists carries on. Bora also signed a contract with People Tree-Fair trade organization to design exclusive capsule collections to raise awareness on fair trade work shops.