Serap Pollard's Turkish fabrics and traditional techniques on London Fashion Week

This year her collection will show London Fashion Week Season AW14.  The show is sponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism Her latest collection at the London Fashion Season AW14 Show will utilize Turkish fabrics and traditional techniques, Serap Pollard believes that Turkey is very rich in traditional values as a result of a deep and rich history, therefore, she is very attentive to use the traditional values of Turkey in her designs. In similarity to her previous projects, Serap pollard will be using the other fabrics which originate from the depths of Turkey’s history as it appeals to have rich traditional values within the culture.

Although sustainable or organic clothes lack of colour and model, the designs of Serap Pollard are very successful at combining traditional lines with the world trends. Use of ecological products in her designs has received attention in Europe.

Serap Pollard works towards promoting sustainability and helping people in the world's most marginalized communities escape poverty by actively supporting Fair Trade producer groups, in Turkey.

She is one of the few designers who produces sustainable fashion. Sustainable fashion is a way of producing clothing in an eco-friendly way. The goal being to reduce the negative impact it has on the environment and maximize the garments lifespan, avoiding the typical short term garment trend of just wearing a piece of clothing for one season.

Serap Pollard’s show is sponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism. The distinguished designer commented: "I’m thrilled to be working with the Turkish Ministry as official sponsors on my forthcoming London Fashion Week Season AW14 Collection Show.” 

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Serap Pollard was born in Turkey.

After graduating from Faculty of Fine Art of Marmara University in 2000, Serap Pollard moved to London and has been living there ever since. 

In 2000, she studied at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts, and Central Saint Martin’s College, adding to her already impressive resume. In 2012 she completed her Master at University of the Arts London After working for 10+ years in London with well-established companies (Laura Ashley etc.) and Designer Brands which continuously attended International and National Fashion Fairs, she launched her brand under the name of SERAP POLLARD LONDON in 2011.

One key indication that a brand has become a lifestyle is when it successfully extends beyond its original product category. Serap’s style evolves into a refined pureness of female elegance, but is still very comfortable and wearable. Every detail, high quality of standard, tradition, and craftsmanship is being cared for.

Serap Pollard thinks that Turkey is very rich in traditional values as a result of her deep and rich history, therefore, she is very attentive to use the traditional values of Turkey in her designs. 

Serap Pollard London works towards promoting sustainability and helping people in the world's most marginalized communities escape poverty by actively supporting Fair Trade producer groups, in Turkey. The brand provides training to artisans and their organisations so they can improve their skills, and strengthen their businesses and social impact. Serap Pollard London also allows time for production by hand and often invests in local community projects too.

Although sustainable or organic clothes lack of colour and style, the designs of Serap Pollard are very successful at combining traditional lines with the world trends. Use of ecological products in her designs has received attention in Europe.

Serap Pollard is one of the few designers who produces sustainable fashion. Sustainable fashion is a way of producing clothing in an eco-friendly way. The goal being to reduce the negative impacts it has on the environment and maximise the garments lifespan, avoiding the typical short term garment trend of just wearing a piece of clothing for one season.

Pollard is not only a nature lover, but also aims to contribute to the country economy. Another way of making eco-friendly clothes is "zero waste".  15% of the fabric is wasted while producing a shirt. Pollard has leveled down this percentage by using appropriate patterns. Thus, from an agriculture labourer to factory owner, from customer to the nature, every aspect in the life cycle of shirt reap the benefit of this approach.

AW15 Collection/ 15th February 2014 (KUTNU) Acculturation We live in a multi-cultural world. Transportation, communication, globalisation, improving international relations, and movements of manpower increasingly bring people of different cultures closer together. Cultures influence each other thanks to this. I have prepared this collection with the conscious of we live in a global village where acculturation is inevitable. The starting point for this were the photos of two little girls. Two photos which were taken in different times and different places. The only common point of two girls, who look with different emotions, is the innocence. One of the photos were taken in Gaziantep, a kid with black big eyes and wearing clothes of traditional kutnu fabric; which I call “ diamond”. The other one is a Princess Louise (1848-1939) portrait. The second “diamond” gives me inspiration with her innocent appearance and yellow ringlet hairs. Likewise in my previous projects, I will use a traditional and historical value of Turkey in my new project: Kutnu fabric. Kutnu Fabric which is a hand woven fabric of Gaziantep in Turkey, and silk chiffon have been used as major materials in my designs. It is very suitable to the Serap Pollard London brand and style, as it is sustainable and ethical. I lived in Turkey until 2000 and have been living in London for the last 14 years. I like travelling. I like searching and learning about new cultures as well as following the interaction between cultures. I too am a part of Global Village.

PROJECTS

• “Under The Baobab” 2012 Londra Olimpiyatları Pollard has made  great impression by the project titled “Under the Baobab” which was materialised with an inspiration from Turkish history. Pollard collaborated with various fashion designers from the world in this project. It was the giant Olympic Tree, made of traditional Turkish fabrics, aroused great interest. Pollard, for this project, says “..a project with the objects of wood and fabric made me very excited. When we looked back to Turkish history, the foundation symbol of Ottoman Empire was a tree. This project with traditional Turkish fabrics has brought the Turkish history to today`s modern-day.”

• SELALMAZ / KASTAMONU

Serap Pollard says that she began this project with the aim of “adding value to the value” and set out on a fashion journey from London to Kastamonu. She adds that she preferred clothes which are more longer lasted, recyclable and away from fashion for this project. She weaved the Selalmaz Fabric of Kastamonu with the eco-friendly Bamboo yarn and adapted this fabric to silk fabrics by using digital printing technique. The traditional weavings has been showcased in Europe.

The Turkish designer aimed to make the Selalmaz fabric, a traditional value of Turkey, gain its well-deserved place. Providing a business opportunity to Kastamonu tradesmen and avoiding the extinction of Selalmaz fabric were among her aims too. Pollard has completed her MA in Sustainable Fashion on London University with this project.

• TOP MODEL UK 

Designs of the Turkish Designer Serap Pollard were used in Top Model UK. Pollard signed her name to Top Model UK 2013 by using the garments made of ecological fabrics as well as ecological products

• TOP MODEL WORLDWIDE

Pollard made an indelible impression in domestic and foreigner media organs by dressing models from 46 different countries in Top Model Worldwide 2013. Fashion authorities are already in agreement for her upward success graphic. This accomplishment has a broad repercussion in Turkey as well. Pollard has been officially appreciated by various Turkish Ministries for her contributions to the recognition of Turkey`s traditional values.

• IZNIK CINISI

The patterns of Iznik Tile, main theme of 2014 Spring/Summer collection, attracted great attention in the UK as well as the US where the editorial photo-shoots were performed.

The Turkish designer says that she made a 3-months-research in Turkey, patterns designs were made in Turkey and the prepared fabrics were became clothes in London. The promotion shooting of the collection was realised during London Fashion Week. 

American Modelling Agency and its staff were used for editorial shootings in Hollywood and Beverly hills.

The American models, one more beautiful than the other, wore the garments which carry the blue colour and patterns of Iznik tile. The name of Pollard`s collection is “Tiled-UP” and used the traditional blue tonnes of the word-famous Bursa Iznik Tile, Turkish blue, dodger blue and midnight blue were widely used in the collection.  Serap Pollard states that it is very exciting to introduce Turkey in American Fashion word and adds “it is very extraordinary experience to tell the subjects, patterns and colours which you know best to the people you listen”.