'Fashion is architecture,' as Coco Chanel memorably proclaimed, and a new exhibition at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art explores the synergy of the two disciplines. Turkish fashion brand Dice Kayek has taken aspects of Istanbul - including some of its most iconic buildings - and translated them into sartorial form.
The exhibition's 12 themes include 'Istanbul by night', 'Bosphorus' and 'Dome' - with certain designs channelling specific architectural icons. The metallic embroidery of Dice Kayek's 'Galata' dress, for example, echoes the cast-iron latticework of the Galata Bridge; the intricate embroidery of the 'Aya Sofya' gown was inspired by the mosaics of the Haghia Sophia museum; and the geometric shapes of the five 'Istanbul Modern' designs evoke Istanbul's contemporary architecture.
Established in 1991, Dice Kayek is one of Turkey's most acclaimed fashion labels. Now based in Paris, the brand's designer Ece Ege has drawn inspiration from her city of birth for these 26 designs celebrating the diversity, history and architecture of this famous intersection of cultures.
The collection was previously exhibited at the Les Arts Decoratifs Museum of Paris in March, but five new designs have been created specifically for the Istanbul Contrast show. A sculptural installation - 'LogForest' by Arik Levy of LDesign - was also specially commissioned.
Istanbul Contrast exhibition of work by Dice Kayek
The 'Kubbe' (dome) dress, by Dice Kayek, echoes the domes of Istanbul's mosques
The Blue Mosque that inspired the design
One of the five designs from Dice Kayek's 'Istanbul modern' theme
The Kanyon building that inspired the dress
The intricate embroidery of Dice Kayek's 'Aya Sofya' dress was inspired by the mosaics of Istanbul's Haghia Sophia museum
Now a museum, the Haghia Sophia is a former Byzantine church that was transformed into a mosque when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. After the building's conversion, many of its mosaics were plastered over, and remained covered until 1931
The metallic embroidery of Dice Kayek's 'Galata' dress was inspired by the cast-iron latticework of the Galata Bridge
The cast iron Galata Bridge, which links Eminonu to the district of Beyoglu, is considered a bridge between the ancient and modern in Istanbul
The 26 designs on show at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art celebrate the diversity, history and architecture of the city
Istanbul is famed for its 'lale' (tulips), the inspiration for this Dice Kayek design
Istanbul is also known for its many doves, which inspired this 'Kumru' (dove) dress
Dice Kayek is one of Turkey's most acclaimed fashion labels
Another famous Istanbul flower, evoked in the form of Dice Kayek's crisp white cocktail dress
