People
Lasha Devdariani: Oriental luxury and love of tradition
Photo: © Lasha Devdariani
Photo: © Lasha Devdariani
Photo: © Lasha Devdariani
Photo: © Lasha Devdariani
Photo: © Lasha Devdariani
Photo: © Lasha Devdariani
Photo: © Lasha Devdariani
Robes and kimonos have been among top fashion trends since several seasons and are as in style as ever. Great quality, attention to detail and exclusive handmade clothes will never go out of fashion. Young but very talented Georgian designer Lasha Devdariani talks about his vision of fashion, materialized in the designs of his brand Lasha Devdariani in the exsclusive interview for evelinakhromtchenko.com.
Could you tell us a little about your family, your childhood?
I was born in a small town in Georgia. I remember very well that when I was a child I was always surrounded by cheerful and very open people. Although myself I was more tempted to spend some time alone and think. I also drew literally everywhere even on the walls of my bedroom. I was submerged by dreams and trips through my own magical inner world. I was a really humble boy.
Where did your interest in world of design and fashion come from?
My personal story with fashion is absolutely accidental. I was always aesthetically pleased when looking at clothes. At first I felt completely unprepared for this mysterious magical world. And even now I always try to get more of different knowledge and experience, I work non-stop. It is an endless process of the exploration of the world and of your own self. Fashion is religion for me. It is a tasty food with lots of interesting ingredients. It is and emotional language of communication, that helps to express yourself, to reveal who you are and what you are.
What is your educational background?
I received a Masters degree in Fashion Design at National Academy of Art of Tbilisi and a Bachelors degree in Art and Costume Design at National Theatrical University. Besides, I completed a course in Art, Fashion and Design at a summer school Accademia Italiana in Florence. I worked as an assistant at a lot of ateliers and studios of famous designers. I worked a lot trying to drink in all the information. Eventually, I opened personal projects, created artistic installations; it started to take up all my free time. Last few years I have been developing my personal brand Lasha Devdariani.
I have got more than 4 years of teaching practice, as well as participation in different expositions (among which we count more than 20 student ones), and my own fashion shows behind me. I admire fashion based fully on creative attitude and style that depicts emotions and intellect, but keeps the delicacy of the form. In 2012 I became first at the “Be Next” competition my prize being an internship with Guram Gvasalia in Paris. Two years later I took part in an annual International Fashion Showcase (IFS) in London.
Have you had any collaborations? Maybe you had experience working on theatrical productions or films?
I would like to emphasize several projects. I made costumes for the National pantomime theatre of Georgia. I also work as a member of the team of costume designers at a National centre of cinematography. Beyond that I had a joint project with interior designer Guga Kotetishvili. All those collaborations are of high importance for me.
Why have you decided to devote yourself specifically to textile design?
It is textile design in particular that allows me to use folk and ethnical aesthetics most often. One of my favorite techniques is an Indian traditional quilt stitch – kantha. But designs made with French crochet can be as powerful. I combine silk with magnificent embroidery absolutely freely. I put an idea of the reincarnation in my designs – I want to give old materials and fabrics new life. I believe old textile deserves huge respect and love. There is no doubt, the quality of fabric and its details are very important. Hand-made textile is a truly expensive and unique gift. I think the best way to demonstrate beauty of a fabric is to use natural materials. Besides, old textile charge us with special energy and mood.
Why do you use vintage fabrics in your designs in particular?
Restoration of old textile is my language, my way to express myself. I create dresses, coats – everything only in a unique copy. I work alone in a little workshop. My collections are limited.
They are characterized by oriental brightness of color, simplicity of form, uncomplicated templates, and most importantly – bohemian feeling of freedom.
My designs’ most outstanding features have always been concise and simple lines and forms, as well as references to the history of fashion which I create by using specific fabrics and materials. Preparation stage is always long and intense for me. It is a process of studying different cultures to better understand them and of conducting different experiments to find the best way to turn them from a potential idea to reality.
What is your biggest source of inspiration?
Traveling, interesting people and cultures.
If you had an opportunity to talk to any designer (artist, writer) dead or alive, who would it be and what would you two talk about?
Oh, I could name lots of people! Alexander McQueen, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Michel Houellebecq… We would talk about life and art.
Interview: Maria Massot
