Photography Courtesy of XO Photography & Sterling FX Photography
Dallas based designer Yasmina Johnston of Inner.Orbit.Systems unveiled her latest Fall/Winter 2013 collection of conceptual fashion as an installation titled Lunar Polarity at Kirk Hopper Fine Art. Lunar Polarity was inspired by Yasmina Johnston’s love of Middle Eastern culture and seeks to usher in a whole new perception of the abaya by transforming the traditional abaya into a furtistic hybrid of what young women want to wear.
An absolute restriction of color gave shape to Yasmina Johnston’s otherworldly collection. Johnston played with textures such as sleek leather and seductive silks mixed with wool and matte jersey fabrics with pops of pristine white and vivid emerald green adding a dimension of color. The duality of covering a woman’s body with the abaya and hijab, and then unveiling the body through open-weave leather skirts and leather cages, resulted in a skillfull contradiction of fashion extremes.
The designer’s offerings included body-conscious leather skirts finished with deliberate zippers as details or intricately cut leather dresses bonded with silk or jersey. Body-conscious silhouettes rendered in black silk often mixed with leather were accessorized with leather harness straps that crisscrossed the bodice.
For evening a sophisticated abaya gown with cascading palliates of sequins fused with sheer silk inserts in body-skimming silhouettes were among the standouts. A “Techno Emerald Abaya,” with palliates of emerald green sequins was set against a sultry sheer silk bodice gown.
“The future is now, so it’s time to start dressing like it,” said Yasmina Johnston. The young designer is paving the way for how women, especially Muslim women will dress in the future by challenging traditional Middle Eastern dress with her innovative ideas. The goal is to create a new dialogue and re-think the perception of this alluring culture. We can’t wait to see what’s coming next for this young designer
Q & A
EF: What’s your design aesthetic?
YJ: To me when I think of fashion, I want it be “wearable energy”. “What does this garment say about me and what statement am I making?” Whether it’s through the fabrication or structure, I try to manipulate it so that the viewers see the energy in motion and form. Each piece that I create has a title not a name. I title it like an art piece; each one means something different to me and represents a particular story. Such as, “Forbidden Child Bearing Cloak” or “Don’t forget Me Dress”. My designs rely heavily on structure and manipulation of fabric. My intention is to create garments that you can find at a store. I really want to give women something that they can add or enhance in their wardrobe. Something that they can appreciate in terms of craft and design not because of trends.
EF: What inspired your latest collection?
YJ: I am inspired by the individual expression for the future. Everyone wants to move forward and faster. Tech materials and colors naturally make me think of “the future” because technology and communication is always advancing. Within the collection I have concept ready to wear pieces and contemporary Abaya’s. The inspiration for the Abayas are along those same lines. Even though they are two different markets, they have the same thread.
EF: What’s your favorite piece of the collection? and Why?
YJ: My favorite piece in the collection is the “Techno Emerald Abaya”, because it is infused with a Dubai style dressing and tech fabrication.
EF: What’s the purpose of your line/collection?
YJ: The purpose of this line to re-think perceptions of Middle eastern culture. Re-think the way you style, re-think what you want to put out in the world. The future is now, so it’s time to start dressing like it.
EF: Where can we buy you collection?
YJ: At the moment it is by appointment only, but we are expanding into specialized boutiques
The fashion installation was art directed and produced by Eric Oliver Jr. of Protégé by EOJ. The installation was a true feast for the senses.
