The Philosopher Designer

QATAR TRIBUNE Publication Sunday 22.05.2016 Pooja plays lead in her first Hollywood The philosopher film... Bollywood designer COVERPG STORY 2&3 02 Sunday, May 22, 2016 COVER STORY Fashion as a mission for world peace DIPTI NAIR DOHA ASHION is not just clothes or designs. It encases entire cultures and their traditions, and depicts how people live or used to live. It brings people together, andF in the hands of someone as creative as Turkish designer Rabia Yalcin, fashion also acts as a bridge unifying cultures and eras. She was in Doha recently for the launch of ‘Reflect your light with Kutnu’, her own project, where she has collaborated with the Turkish Exporters Assembly to give a global message of peace and unity. During the launch, she showcased her collection which was all done with Kutnu, a handmade fabric into which is woven the rich history and cultural heritage of Turkey. Her collection brought elements of the past like old embroidery and styles into the present, making it suitable for the modern woman. The project is not just a one-off fashion show but an ongoing peace mission and it was received well by people in Qatar. Rabia Yalcin may never have learned fashion in a school, but her talent of creating unique styles and designs will amaze you. Coming from a family of tailors and craftsmen, it was only natural that she take Rabia Yalcin receiving the award for ‘most innovative designer’ at the New York Couture Week. an interest in the craft early on. The self- taught designer started taking an interest ¸)LPUNH^VTHUTHRLZ in clothes and began designing her own dresses at the age of five. `V\RUVJRH[HKVVY Rabia Yalcin believes that artistic talent is a natural gift and feels she has been [^PJL[VNL[P[VWLULK blessed with it. “An artistic point of view is )LPUNH4\ZSPT^VTHU like the colour of your eyes,” she says. “You are born with it. And I feel this calling or `V\OH]L[VRUVJRH[[OL this urge to share my artistic point of view KVVY[OYLL[PTLZ[VNL[ with everyone.” Yalcin’s talent was first recognised on P[VWLULK+\YPUN[OL the streets of Turkey in the 1990s, when women would stop her on the roads to SHZ[`LHYZ0OH]LOHK admire her dress. THU`ZL[IHJRZI\[0 “Strangers would always pull alongside me and ask where I bought my dress or UL]LYVUJLHZRLK skirt but they would all be my designs. In ºÔ`TL»¹ those days, Muslim women in Turkey and generally in the Middle East did not have many services provided to them. There weren’t many options for modest clothes. Yalcin at the ‘Reflect your light with Kutnu’ project fashion show in Doha. This was my inspiration, to create some- ‘the most innovative designer award’ and thing for the traditional Muslim woman ture. In no time, she became a darling of Week in 2007. The same year, she held her catapulted her to global fame. with a sense of fashion,” she recounted. the European fashion scene and began de- first solo runway show as part of the New Yalcin credits her global acceptance Yalcin’s foray into the fashion industry signing for prominent international figures York Couture Week. In 2008, she showed and success to her respect for different was made with an unpretentious show in politics, business and entertainment. her environmentalist empathy at the New cultures, religions and views of life. of her first collection at a private club in Rabia Yalcin ventured into the United York Couture Week by designing a col- “All through my life and career I have 1996. The work received high praise and States fashion scene with a fund-raising lection with fabric made out of recycled given a lot of respect to people irrespective launched her line Rabia Yalçın Haute Cou- event for Darfur at the New York Fashion plastic bottles. This won her the coveted of their religion or way of life. I believe that 03 COVER STORY Sunday, May 22, 2016 mutual respect is the only way to bring dressing too,” she said. produce for themselves. The grading peace in the world. I have a very firm stand Yalcin’s designs are not restricted to the system in my school will be based on their on my religion and values, but at the same modest designs as she designs for women courage and the risks they are willing to time, I respect other cultures and faiths of different cultures and values, but her take to nurture their inborn talent and too, and because of this attitude, I believe, I personal style is to cover herself. not just on the quality of their artwork am respected and accepted wherever I go,” “I did not give up on my feminin- or designs. I have never let anyone she said. ity when I decided to cover myself,” she grade my artwork and have kept According to her, Islam and fashion said. “Every woman is beautiful and if she my freedom and that is part of my are two different concepts but the rules of knows she is beautiful and if she is femi- success. There are certain things Islam are not subject to change, so fashion nine, then she is automatically empowered. that you cannot buy with is changing and circling around the rules Women need to understand that power money, one is courage and of Islam. Yalcin feels that the need for a comes from within and it will be reflected another is inborn talent. woman to look elegant and beautiful has in her style. A woman doesn’t have to lose You have got to have them remained constant over the years. In ear- out on her femininity to be powerful. If she within you, and this is lier days, there were not many options for a is courageous, she can beat the odds and what I will preach in Muslim woman to dress modestly and still triumph.” my design school, look pretty. But now, there are more ways Yalcin’s journey as a Muslim woman and encourage for a woman to express herself in a modest trying to have her own life outside Turkey, students to open yet elegant way. hasn’t been an easy one and every step was their minds, “Fashion is a commercial concept that strewn with difficulties and challenges. speak freely changes every season but the Islamic laws “Being a woman makes you knock at a and design of a woman covering her body remain door twice to get it opened. Being a Mus- freely.” unchanged. What I do, is use contempo- lim woman, you have to knock at the door rary elements like fabric and embroidery in three times to get it opened. During the my designs to fit the existing Islamic laws, last 20 years, I have had many setbacks, so the modern Muslim woman can look but I never once asked ‘why me’. Every pretty and sophisticated and still be within time I fell, I got up with a handful of soil in the rules and regulations of Islam,” said my hand. Each time, I pick up something Yalcin. from my fall and I say to myself that these She believes that the use of colours, experiences will come handy eventually. instead of just black, has triggered accept- And they have,” she averred. ance of modest fashion globally. While de- Yalcin said that all her success has signing, Yalcin is creating for a courageous come from courage and respect, courage and powerful modern Muslim woman. of conviction and respect for the arts. She “Muslim women are doesn’t let anyone put her into certain prominent every- shapes or set limits for her and she where now, be wants to give this back to the com- it business or munity. academia. They “I was brought up with these show themselves values of giving back to society,” more, they are says Yalcin. “It’s a big part of A design featuring Kutnu, a blend of silk more coura- Islam, and in Turkey, we and cotton. geous and this have that sense of commu- is reflected in nity.” their Yalcin dreams of way of starting a design school, where she can impart her knowl- edge of the arts to the next genera- tion. “I want children to find their arty side and Her pieces and handmade accessories showcase intricate Rabia Yalcin has used Kutnu even in the embroidery designs and detail - inspired by the rich history Her traditional background and the sensual garments she creates forms a unique bridge accessories including belts, bags and shoes. of Turkey and are also fit for today’s women. between the East and the West. 04 Sunday, May 22, 2016 PEF wins T20 cricket friendly against QVL Tahir Jamil and MI Farid exchanging mementos. PEF captain Mahmood Ali Khan receiving the championship trophy. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK AKISTAN Engineers Forum (PEF) cricket team won the T20 cricket friendly match against Qatar Veteran league (QVL) by 20 runs. PQVL were all out in 17 overs and scored 87 runs in response to 107 runs by PEF in 20 overs in the first inning. PEF won the toss and decided to bat first and in 20 overs scored 107. While chasing this score, QVL could manage just 87 runs. They were all out in 17 overs. There were three individual prizes awarded to PEF, Man of the Match received by Mahmood Ali Khan, Best Batsman given to Mohammad Jawad and Best Bowler to Rauf Shahzad.

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