In the 125th year of Turkey-Japan friendship, a Turkish fashion wind blew in Japan’s capital of Tokyo.

“Costume Design and Application” project has been carried out for three years by collaboration of Tokyo Yunus Emre Enstitüsü and a leading fashion college in the world, Bunka Gakuen Fashion College. The third one ended on 30 November 2015 evening with a spectacular fashion show organized with the theme “From Tradition to the Future”.

Modern clothes designed by Bunka Gakuin Fashion College graduate students in leather and decorative materials from Turkey and Ottoman palace costumes featured in Ankara Technical School for Girls collection, were exhibited in the fashion show held in the Japanese college which raises world famous fashion designers.

In the event that attracted a great deal of attention, Turkish Republic Ambassador to Tokyo A. Bülent Meriç stated that the fashion cultures of both countries were exhibited as part of activities organized for the 125th year of the friendship between Turkey and Japan. Meriç marked that the fashion show contributes greatly to cultural relations, and said “Japan represented modernism, and Turkey represented historical background. Costumes of both countries drew considerable interest.”

Director of Tokyo Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Telat Aydın stated that they cooperate with Aegean Exporters Union, Istanbul Textile Exporters’ Association and textile companies, and spoke as follows:

“Last year Japanese students designed costumes using leather and Turkish fabrics. We will organize fashion shows next year as well. We hope that Japanese students are inspired by Turkish patterns and fabrics, and will feature these patterns more in their future designs.”

Head of Bunkai Fashion College Sanae Kosugi remarked that they carry out a joint project with Turkish designers, and continued as follows: “We wish Turkish and Japanese students will strengthen the relationship between the two cultures. I particularly sensed the Ottoman culture in the fashion show. I liked the gold and green colors used in Ottoman fashion show.”

As part of the activity, the trailer of movie Ertuğrul 1890 was screened which is a Turkey-Japan coproduction to be released in December and audience was informed on the movie. Movie’s director and producer hailed the audience in their speeches and conveyed their opinions on the movie. The costumes used in the movie were exhibited at event’s foyer area.

Event was attended by around 300 guests including Turkish Republic Ambassador to Tokyo A. Bülent Meriç and his spouse Kumiko Meriç: Turkish Republic Ministry of Culture Deputy Secretaries Nihat Gül and Nermin Kırım; Chief of Supervisory Board Asım Keser; General Manager of Sinema Erkin Yılmaz; famous author İskender Pala; renowned conductor Seiji Mukaiyama; and Director of Ertuğrul 1890 Mitsutoshi Tanaka.

Project was launched in 2013

In the first year of the project launched in February 2013, students selected sample fabrics from Istanbul Textile Exporters’ Association and Aegean Exporters Union and started working on their designs. Students made research on Turkish culture, tradition and attire, and completed their authentic designs in a period of six months. Clothes completed at the end of this intense process were exhibited in the fashion week organized by the College each year. Designs in fabrics with Turkish patterns were a great success and designers using modern fabrics alongside fabrics decorated with Turkish patterns excited both the fashion world and companies which export textiles.

In 2014, the costumes in Ankara Technical School for Girls collection accompanied the designs of Bunka Gakuen Fashion College students, and the event received support from Istanbul Ready-Made Clothing and Garment Exporters Union and Aegean Exporters Union. In the collection created by Japanese designers, Turkish garments were reinterpreted and 36 traditional outfits and robes from Bursa, Elazığ, Mardin, Bodrum and Çorum regions, embroidered dresses, wedding and evening gowns were featured. Bunka Gakuen Fashion College students also introduced men’s wear they designed using Turkish fabrics.

Bunka Gakuen Fashion College

Bunka Gakuen Fashion College in Tokyo is among the prominent fashion colleges in the world. Celebrated fashion designer Takada Kenzo is an alumni of Bunka Gakuen, the largest fashion college in Asia and the second largest fashion college in the world. For the last three years, Tokyo Yunus Emre Enstitüsü has been in collaboration with the College with around 10 thousand students.