GLOBAL YOUNG TALENT 2021: ALEXANDRA HALATSIS | SPECIALISING IN HAUTE COUTURE AND RTW

Alexandra Halatsis is a Printed Textiles/ Fashion Designer specialising in Haute Couture and RTW womenswear fashion. Aiming to create unique luxe designs with a heavy focus on art, colour, nature and historical narratives. We had unique pleasure to talk to recently featured in the April issue of Harper’s Bazaar graduate about what designing textiles really means to her, read on to find out more!

You are a Printed Textiles/Fashion Designer specialised in Haute Couture and RTW womenswear fashion, what inspired you to follow that direction?

 I have always been inspired by art and fashion constantly visiting museums and galleries for inspiration. Studying Textile Design at Loughborough University I was able to explore different areas of textiles then specialising in printed textiles. My work aims to create unique luxe designs with a heavy focus on art, colour, nature and historical narratives. Constantly exploring ways to use art within fashion and to make it unique. Aiming at the Haute Couture/ RTW market help push me further and to create as far as my imagination takes me. Being able to focus time on storytelling, the development process, selecting fabrics and creating mock ups to then eventually making a final collection.

What is the most interesting area in textiles that made you become a fashion designer? ?

Textiles and fashion design are intertwined. Fashion designers are constantly using textiles within their work from prints to embroidery. The ability to combine textiles into a wearable form almost art is something that fascinated me. From watching runway shows and searching through books and magazines. Fashion has just been something that I have been drawn to.

“ Textiles and fashion design are intertwined. Fashion designers are constantly using textiles within their work from prints to embroidery.”.”

Your colour palette is very intense and strong, what kind of materials you like to work with the most and why?

In the development process I enjoy painting with vibrant gouache to get my ideas down. I like picking colours from my sources of inspiration and making sure that I have a specific and coherent colour palette. With a keen eye for colour and creating bold contemporary prints primarily using high end fabrics such as silks, tulle and organza. With sustainability in mind I primarily only like to work with natural materials being more mindful of the impact of my work as well.

“I like picking colours from my sources of inspiration and making sure that I have a specific and coherent colour palette.”

What inspire you to become a better version of yourself? What are the main factors that have the biggest influence on you as an artist?

A lot of factors inspire me to do better and create more. I find that it is important to not put pressure when wanting to make and to have time to relax as well, which is easier said than done. My main influence focuses on appreciating historical elements and other artists whilst bringing into a contemporary setting. Whilst at university and through my placement year I was able to learn so much and find different perspectives that have really influenced me as a designer. I constantly find new inspiration that I may have never seen before or never looked or observed it.

Saying all this, how would you like to be pictured in your target minds?

As a designer I want my work to speak for itself and to evoke a dreamy ethereal aesthetic. But mainly to be pictured as a designer that uses storytelling through prints and colours to create romantic and majestic designs like pieces of art. Most importantly I want the wearer to feel confident and lost in deep reverie letting their imagination run wild. Offering a sense of freeness like running through a garden of roses, admiring their beauty.

“Most importantly I want the wearer to feel confident and lost in deep reverie letting their imagination run wild. Offering a sense of freeness like running through a garden of roses, admiring their beauty.”

Discover Alexandra Halatsis's full collection

Words by Katarzyna Korcz