TURKISH DESIGNER BORA AKSU TO OPEN LONDON FASHION WEEK

_Friday 13 September 2013 at 9.30am_ __

_BFC Catwalk Showspace, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA_

LONDON, 9 SEPTEMBER 2013 - _MARKING HIS 10TH YEAR AT THE LONDON FASHION SHOW, RENOWNED TURKISH DESIGNER BORA AKSU WILL BE THE OPENING SHOW AT THIS YEAR'S LONDON FASHION WEEK BY SHOWCASING HIS SPRING/SUMMER 2014 COLLECTION. THE OPENING SHOW IS SPONSORED BY THE TURKISH MINISTRY OF CULTURE & TOURISM._

Aksu's latest collection at the London Fashion show_ _will utilise TURKISH FABRICS AND TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES, with the colour palette of the collection being influenced by Turkish coastal resorts.

AKSU'S OPENING SHOW AT LFW IS SPONSORED BY THE TURKISH MINISTRY OF CULTURE & TOURISM. The renowned designer says: 'I'm delighted to be working with the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism as official sponsor on my upcoming London Fashion Week show. After 10 years showing in London it's been great to go back to my roots and be inspired by the rich culture and traditional artistry of Turkey. I hope the show will inspire people to explore Turkey and discover the amazing gems it has to offer.'

REFLECTING THE CREATIVITY OF A WHOLE HOST OF NEW TURKISH DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO DISCOVER THE BURGEONING SCENE IN TURKEY ITSELF AFTER LFW. All over the country new and established talents of fashion, culture and the arts are showcased with regular FASHION EVENTS, ART GALLERIES AND FILM FESTIVALS. All set against a backdrop of FUNKY BOUTIQUE HOTELS, AND DESIGNER LUXURY HOTELS, not to mention a SOPHISTICATED FOOD SCENE WITH INNOVATIVE CHEFS INTERPRETING ANATOLIAN CLASSICS IN NOVEL WAYS at chic, chic venues.

ISTANBUL IN PARTICULAR HAS A THRIVING AND VIGOROUS CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL SCENE, with the city's GALATA DISTRICT ALL HIP BARS, PAVEMENT CAFÉS AND TINY BOUTIQUES opened by some of Turkey's up-and-coming fashion names.

Elsewhere in ISTANBUL'S 'SOHO' AREA OF BEYOGLU, there is also a youthful contemporary arts and culture scene with such venues as the ISTANBUL MODERN MUSEUM, BEYOGLU'S NUMEROUS INDEPENDENT GALLERIES, VIBRANT STREET ART AND PERFORMERS livening up what is Turkey's cultural capital.