It may only be three seasons old, but Istanbul Fashion Week has definitely whetted our appetites for more sartorial Turkish delights. Its latest staging saw a gathering of the best of the country's fashion in the city's Itu Taskisla Campus.
Backed by the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, the week's fashion schedule featured internationally established names like Bora Aksu, Arzu Kaprol and Dice Kayak, as well as new design talent and lesser-known local names.
A precursor to the international fashion week roster, the current European City of Culture had international press and buyers flock to the city to take in shows, exhibitions and customary trips to the city's Grand Bazaar for inspiration.
With Turkish textile export being a world frontrunner, it came as no surprise that highlights of the week included quality finishes, intricately constructed fabrics and experimental textures. Also interesting was the fact that many ready-to-wear collections featured designs and prints that were heavily inspired by Turkish culture as a whole.
Another thing that stood out was the show schedule, which was executed with military precision. This made it probably the only fashion week in the world where almost every show started on time.
Despite it lacking quite the same finesse as other major fashion weeks, the buzz around the fledgling IFW was alive, making it certainly one to watch.
Categories were separated into ready-to-wear and leather
One of the more peculiar accessories included a bag made out of a birdcage, as seen in this photo. At the end of the show, the young designers took to the catwalk for a final parade alongside their creations
Entrance to the catwalk show space
The courtyard at Itu Taskisla Campus, where the main body of Istanbul Fashion Week took place
Shows were spaced out between two hour intervals, so many guests took advantage of the chill out courtyard zone in between shows
An entrance to the off-show exhibitions and trade stands
At the pre-show rehearsal of Deniz Mercan
Swimwear at Deniz Mercan
Deniz Mercan: The designer and social activist's collection was inspired by the lives of fishermen's wives in the small Turkish fishing village of Rumeli Feneri
Metallic, blue and turquoise tones played on the concept of sea life
The tunnel that lead the way out of the show space
Over at Istanbul Modern, the second day of fashion week saw the opening of the Dice Kayak exhibition
One of the installation-like dresses at Dice Kayak
In another area of the museum, guests were also able to take in the largest and most comprehensive ever local exhibition of Turkish Cypriot designer Hussein Chalayan's work
The start of the much-anticipated Bora Aksu show. The designer was showing for the first time in his hometown
Floaty fabrics and a sheer colour palette set the theme for the collection...
... in Bora Aksu's signature ladylike style
Bora Aksu's collection round-up
Bora Aksu's collection round-up
Freshly pressed Istanbul fashion week newspapers, which were given out during the week
The entrance to Itu Taksilu campus
The G-Start Raw exhibition space within the campus
A throng of photographers before a show, both from Turkish and International press
At the Simay Bulbul show
This season, the Simay Bulbul woman was strongly based on mysticism and the idea of ancient magician women
Parts of the collection seemed to be styled on the Elf-women in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
Bulbul wanted to show a sense of transformation between brightness and darkness, and the collection had three distinct colour blocks of white, black and turquoise
At the end of her show, a barefooted Bulbul greeted a rapturous audience
Alek Wek with the designer Atil Kutoglu, wearing one of his creations. The designer showed his collection on the second day of fashion week
Outfits by fashion student Ozlem Yazan, in an exhibition that showcased work by the students of Istanbul Moda Academy, which has international links with fashion schools such as London College of Fashion, Domus Academy, Institut Francais de la Mode and Polimoda
An up close look at the final designs for the Koza Young Designers contest
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