Judging from the comments made after Patuna’s Autumn-Winter
2015-2016 collection in Paris, one either loves or hates the creations of this Georgian-born designer.
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| Patuna: vetvet ensemble |
An enthusiastic spectator with multi-hued hair gushed, for
instance, that the show was “spectacular, amazing”, while a dour man who seemed to
be a fashion buyer said the designs were “not in the least beautiful”.
“I didn’t like it at all,” he told Tasshon. “That’s not the
way to use fabrics like velvet.”
Some spectators applauded loudly, while others declined to
clap, making a quick exit from the Hotel du Louvre, where the show took place
on July 6.
“There was just too much going on with those dresses, and
some of the models didn’t seem to know what they wanted to do,” said another
viewer.
The event started with a performance by singer Flowr, dressed
in black and belting out the single “Logo” in melodramatic fashion, with
accompaniment from pianist Denis Horvat. That set the stage for the models who
emerged onto the runway doing what seemed a version of the goose step. Whatever
it was, it had many spectators bemused.
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| Patuna: lace gown. |
To say that the designs were daring would be too easy. They
were over the top, eye-catching and intriguing, and will especially appeal to people who appreciate evening wear in which baroque meets biker-rock.
These were gowns, in fact, that instantly conjured up the
image of leaping onto a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to head to a Gothic ball.
Patuna said that her ideas spring from art and that she used
the French capital for inspiration, mixing trends from the 1930s with modern
themes.
“Paris and France always inspire me,” the designer told Tasshon. “I love the architecture and history. That's why I called this collection 'Moonlight in the Streets of Paris'."
Employing silks, laces, velvet, chiffon, and other fabrics,
she produced dresses that indeed mixed various influences and perhaps also
reflected her own background.
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| The designer |
Born in Georgia into a family of artists, Patuna studied
ballet, drama and art. She eventually went into the medical field and became a
dental surgeon, but she left this sector seven years ago to pursue her passion
- fashion - and is now based in the United States.
As one spectator noted, if haute couture fails, Patuna will
always have something “to fall back on”.
But with her engaging personality and individual style, the
designer seems sure to increase her following, and among clients rather than dental patients. - J.M. De Clercq and L. McKenzie
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| Patuna: pink is for partying? |
