NYFW SPRING/SUMMER 2018 RUNWAY SHOW INTERNATIONAL COUTURE DESIGNER JOHN PAUL ATAKER
For Immediate Release
New York, NY (August 16, 2017) – International ready-to-wear designer Numan Ataker of John Paul Ataker will debut his Spring/Summer 2018 collection for the first time as part of IMG Fashion Week in New York. The September 11th runway show, held at Skylight Clarkson Square, will come only three weeks prior to the brand’s first U.S. flagship store opening on upper Madison Avenue on October 1st.
The SS18 collection is a departure from years past in its nod towards a return to nature with an eye on sustainability. With ninety-five percent boasting a minimal eco footprint, the pristine and elegant collection uses low impact dyes and fabrications with the majority of pieces comprised of unbleached, raw and natural elements.
Ataker predominantly references the province of Trabzon in the Black Sea region of his homeland of Turkey, a place that has remained a culture hub along the coast and continues to be a region of fisherman, farmers and harvesters choosing to live a low impact, simple and sustainable life during modern times.
“I feel that the world’s ecosystem is being negatively impacted by the consumers’ want of inexpensive pricing. This mass pricing has created an industry of inexpensive fabrications, techniques and dyes,” says Ataker. “We are always creating slow fashion - hand dyes, cutting and draping. I would like this season to be dedicated to the simple, but complex culture that has dominated the Black Sea region for thousands of years.”
Pant suits, jackets, pants, finely cut blouses, apron dresses and signature gowns make up the collection that attracts attention for Ataker’s expert tailor’s touch. This season’s color palate of off-white, creme, silver and black tones with touches of gold forms a natural palette in reference to the black tea exported in the region. Couture techniques are applied to unbleached linen, cotton voile and organza. Natural straw, rope, and wicker are hand stitched and special hand dyes with custom pleating, fringe or soutache trim add simple, pretty threading on the garments. The addition of ropes and natural twines on hand draped gowns and separates create patterns and designs for a nautical theme.
The designer continues to embrace structural elements and creates all of his collections from the fabric up, with the premier focus on textile creation that remains exclusive to his brand. The designer’s signature shapes and tailored silhouettes are constructed to enhance the female form while the core attributes of deliberate detailing and sculptural aspects allows the John Paul Ataker woman to feel her most feminine and empowered self.
The designer’s passion lies in the merging together of different quality of materials, and techniques to reach the desired effect for the pattern he seeks; a creative process that Ataker takes pride in achieving through much time, patience and years of expertise learned from growing up as a textile designer and learning the craft hands-on.
Stacks of custom wicker bangles with complimenting natural hair and makeup is intended to complete this season’s notion of choosing simplicity over modernity in current times.