GLOBAL YOUNG TALENT 2021: TASARLA LAGAN | RE-WORKING EXISTING MATERIALS TO CREATE WEARABLE GARMENTS

The collection is highly focused on reworking existing materials to create wearable garments. Through the experimental process, Tasarla Lagan has created a manifesto on sustainability, feminine identity and festival culture to voice outstanding issues on all 3 topics. Recently seen in the April issue of the Harper’s Bazaar we had a great opportunity to talk about feminine point of view of the designer.

Your focus is around sustainability, what inspired you to follow this path?

A few reasons lead me to base my collection around the topic of sustainability, the first reason is, it is so diverse, there are many different ways to incorporate it into your practice. For me, I decided to work with existing materials by experimenting with them in waste conscious ways, predominantly I worked on the stand to reduce fabric waste and to eliminate pattern paper and calico. Obviously this makes the process a lot cheaper, therefore more economical for the designer and better for the environment! Not only for this reason, but for the extremely rewarding outcome, it allows you to create designs in a physical way, to form garments you could not have imagined. As most people know, whilst more and more are taking action, we are currently within a tipping point to regenerating our ecosystem. I believe all industries should be making conscious efforts to be a lot more responsible within every single discipline. It really is a crucial time and in my opinion my generation needs to have the topic of sustainability engraved in the back of their minds at all times.

Identify self with strong feminine voice, what inspired to create theme for collection ?

It was actually my mum that kickstarted the inspiration for the strong feminine voice. I would consider her as a strong female character, not so much in the sense of a feminist approach, but in her ability to present herself as confident and independent in the most modest way. She has been through a lot in her life, and you can see that from her external demeanour, but what I love is that she's still standing on the other side, as bold and as beautiful as ever. I think you can see that within my collection, with the bold silhouettes that show power, but present beauty at the same time. The initiation was sparked from some images of her back in her younger days, they show a more raunchy side to her youthful characteristics. Shot in the 90s when rave culture was in full swing, my mum participated in such events, therefore I decided to use the stereotype of a ladette to portray an identity for my collection. The images presented the sexy and playful side to my mum's past life, which tied in nicely with more modern festival culture elements.

“ I think you can see that within my collection, with the bold silhouettes that show power, but present beauty at the same time. The initiation was sparked from some images of her back in her younger days, they show a more raunchy side to her youthful characteristics.”

What message would you like to send to your target audience?

Overall the message goes out to all sorts of women, encouraging them to be exactly who they want with no remorse. I'd like to encourage my audience to make sustainable efforts in their everyday life, even if it is minimal. I want people to veer away from thinking the topic it's so daunting. You don't have to go full on eco warrior, but if everyone plays a small part it will go a long way. Do some research, evaluate your habits and take it from there! My collection is not 100% but a good majority is, it just goes to show it is difficult to be fully committed but the element can be achieved.

“Overall the message goes out to all sorts of women, encouraging them to be exactly who they want with no remorse. I'd like to encourage my audience to make sustainable efforts in their everyday life, even if it is minimal.”

How would you describe yourself as a designer?

I would describe myself as fun and playful, I prefer the unordinary, however my everyday style is less extravagant to my designs! With this in mind I consider myself as a creative and innovative individual, I like to challenge myself and my abilities, devoting myself fully to the process. Finally, of course I am mindful of the procedure, exploring techniques by working with existing materials is good for me and good for the planet.

How would you like to be pictured in your targets minds?

I would love to be viewed as inspirational, I would like to guide people in a positive direction, igniting their intuition when it comes to sustainability. It was once an everyday activity to preserve and maintain values and objects, whereas now we have become so disposable it is taking a huge impact on our ecosystem and it is only a matter of time before it is too late. I would also like to be pictured as equal and fair-minded, no matter how established someone has become we are all human beings that need to nurture our planet.

“I would love to be viewed as inspirational, I would like to guide people in a positive direction, igniting their intuition when it comes to sustainability.”

Discover Tasarla Lagan's full collection

Words by Katarzyna Korcz