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Born in Beirut, Sheryn Akiki’s clothes are for women perpetually in a rush, inspired by those in Middle Eastern conflict zones who might need to flee at a moment’s notice.
A Central Saint Martins graduate and winner of the L’Oréal Professionnel Creative Award for her unique collection, Sheryn Akiki is a fashion designer focusing on women who are constantly rushing about. Drawing inspiration from those in Middle Eastern conflict zones where the ever-present threat of needing to flee at a moment’s notice defines their fashion choices, the 25-year-old is targeting the busy, working woman with her chaotically dishevelled glamour.
‘I wanted to focus on going back to the simple thrill of obsession over possession, of designing a world that represents the living woman, the woman-on-the-go, and the woman in action,’ she says. ‘For me, It’s about going back to that joie de vivre and enforcing it in a time of chaos.’
A combination of intentionally creased fabrics and off-key tailoring to represent ‘ladies gone wrong, improperly going about their daily doings’ (as she puts it), Beirut-born Akiki’s garments are laced with hidden meaning. The underlying urgency emblematic of the current political situation taking place around the Middle East and her own cultural experiences as a Lebanese woman have acted as an integral influence in her approach to design. ‘Lebanon is such a paradoxical melting pot, both infuriatingly and fascinatingly so. The influences are immense, whether emotional, visual, socio-political, and I am still exploring that within my work,’ she explains.
Akiki is exploring (and will continue to explore) a wardrobe for the woman of today that doesn’t compromise looking and feeling good but with an eye towards practicality. She uses the techniques required to create military clothing for her everyday wear, taking traditional materials she considers ‘ideal for a lady’ (think leather handbags, silk gloves, and satin shirts) and transforming them into utility-esque pieces ‘so that you’re ready for anything.’
Akiki is also using her newfound platform to express her anger towards common misconceptions about her country, and the inherent lack of knowledge of what’s actually going on in the Middle East. Associating Trump’s election in the US, Brexit, and the Western portrayal of ISIS with the post-war generation, she understands politics as theatre and ‘creates her own interpretation of propaganda through the mismatch of postcolonial residue,’ says Stavros Karelis, guest judge of last year’s award. ‘Her collection stands for something important as it’s not anymore just about a good product, but the story one tells.’
Now working on a new collection, short film, and several collaborative projects, Akiki is definitely a name to remember in the world of fashion and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
