Fascinated by the entire ecosystem of restoration in art, Erdem Moralıoğlu’s collection for Spring/Summer 2023 evoked the extravagance of the Belle Époque, the New Look, the Roaring Twenties and more.
There was extraordinary craftsmanship and fascinating technical research in the fabrics employed – faded brocades, tea-stained cotton faille and jacquard remnants – which heightened the romantic, precious appeal of the clothes.
“One can peer so deeply into the imagination of others that the boundaries between restoration and inhabitation become blurred. Is it possible that she has studied her material so closely she has started to become it? Together with his studio team, Erdem spent time with restoration experts at the British Museum, Tate, the V&A and the National Gallery. They witnessed an 18th century embroidered dress being revived with a complex tulle under structure. One particularly damaged 15th century oil was being brought back to life based on a 17th century Dutch etching of the painting. Restoration is not only about repair; it is an immersive act that asks one to see and feel through the eyes of others, too.” – from Erdem.
©Erdem
