Abstract:

When the diversity and richness of traditional and cultural background and long history of textiles and rich heritage of textile crafts, that Anatolia has granted to us, are compared, it becomes hard to explain the insignificant role Turkey has been playing on the fashion runways. For years the majority of the Turkish students of fashion and clothing have approached the academic understanding of clothing and fashion through the perspective of the western history of costume and the historical and traditional clothing issues remained beyond students’ concern. It is in this study that we are seeking to explicate the properties of historical knowledge to manipulate into a unique fashion collection. Understanding the principle role of historical knowledge in fashion design has been a key motivation underpinning this research. The assignment of a team of four, undergraduate students at fifth semester, who volunteered to take part in this research, was to design a collection of 20 styles and was to complete 4 among them. The inspiration centered on the Lydian Empire, which ruled Anatolia between 680 and 546 B.C. A detailed analysis of Lydian history and clothing identified several recurrent themes and issues regarding the rich interplay between materials and design. When four of the Lydian inspired dresses were completed, they were presented by professional mannequins on the catwalk during the exposition called Lydian habrosyne.

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