The Ascher Challenge, or famous fabrics in the hands of UMPRUM students
Maybe the name Zika Ascher rings no bells for you. The founder of the famous textile company Ascher used to live in Prague and emigrated in 1939, starting a successful career abroad. His fabrics with unusual patterns that he often collaborated on with world-famous painters were popular among famous fashion houses, where unique collections were created out of them - Balenciaga, Dior, Lanvin, Y. S. Laurent, Givenchy.
Móda proti proudu
Názor PROTI PROUDU: Eva Ledecká
If these luxurious fabrics and Zika Ascher's personality catch your interest, don't hesitate to visit the Museum of Decorative Arts In Prague, currently displaying the exhibition titled "Šílený hedvábník" (The Mad Silkman). We bring you the details about the exhibition HERE.
We shall, however, get back to the runways of Mercedes-Benz Prague Fashion Week, where students from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM) presented their models made specifically out of fabrics by the exceptional Zika Ascher. Get ready for a luxurious show!
These creations had to be a great challenge for the students!
Zika Ascher's fabrics are really unique! As you can see, the students treated them the way this kind of marvel deserves. How often can you get your hands on such a treasure, after all?
We love the combination of old craft and modern trends in these models.
The luxurious fabrics give contemporary fashion unique charisma and in this collection we may find many pieces we'd immediately call dibs on! For example a long black dress with a beige print - totally timeless elegance. We also like the pastel-colored dress with flowers and cut outs, which photos unfortunately don't do justice to, or the dress made out of scarves referencing the famous Ascher Squares (a collection of silk scarves with prints by famous painters).
It's clear that the UMPRUM students handled their task marvelously and deserve our admiration. Moreover, you can see all pieces from the collection with your own eyes at the Museum of Decorative Arts In Prague from March 28 till May 19.
Názor PROTI PROUDU: Ornella Koktová
The Ascher Challenge is yet another work by students. I won't rate the quality of fabrics here, but will focus on the kinds of models the students made out of them.
I'd expect a bigger range of knowledge from an international fashion school, more originality and fighting spirit. Unfortunately, that didn't really get across here.
An 80's style pajama party? If you're into this retro crap like from the movie "Look Who's Talking" (1989), you'll definitely find something here. Such as that ginormous sky-blue shirt that looked like a maternity dress from the last century.
The only thing worth at least something is the light green dress with some kind a frozen structure on the front, carried by the model proudly in her little hands. It's beautiful and interesting... even though nobody would want to wear that all day.
