The 'Rumeli-i Şahane' fashion show, organized by the Rumelian Association of Managers and Businessmen (RUYİAD), in which the traditional clothes of 12 countries in the Balkan geography were compiled and prepared, was held on Wednesday, March 30 at the Akıngüç Orditorium and Art Center in our Ataköy campus. Traditional clothes designed by Bosnian Fashion Designer Müesser Kurt, the representative of Balkan fashion, were exhibited on seven themes, accompanied by the artistic setup and period music of State Artist Özlem Abacı.

To the fashion show, which is almost like a musical; REV & RUYİAD Chairperson of the Board Ayla Erdim, Rumeli Balkan Associations Federation President Kamuran Atakan, RUYİAD Board Member Salih Akgül, Bakırköy Deputy Mayor Cavit Ganic, business people from different sectors and many guests attended.

THE STORY OF THE TIMELESS BALKANS WOMAN

Providing information about the organization, REV & RUYİAD Chairperson of the Board Ayla Erdim said, “Today, we will be telling the story of Rumeli-i Şahane and the Rumelian woman, and even the timeless Balkan woman. We periodically display a cultural journey on the stage accompanied by knitted garments. As it is known, the Balkans have been remembered for centuries with tears and blood. In this sense, many things that have happened are not forgotten. In this story, where we reflect the timeless Balkan woman tonight, we present traditional Balkan clothes with 7 different themes with the participation of our state artists.”

“EVERY CLOTHING HAS A DIFFERENT STORY”

Designer Kurt, regarding the designs in the fashion show, said, “We will exhibit clothing related to immigration, with experiences in the former Yugoslavia. Each outfit has a different story. The themes of the outfits are also different. Some were worn during migration, some have a love story, some are family heirlooms. I added a different interpretation to these clothes, which were worn in the past and have been preserved until today, by making small touches.”

Stating that he is aiming to establish a migration museum, Kurt said, "I have been participating in many fashion shows like this one because I have seen a significant number of Rumelian people in Turkey for the last 10 years and to collect these historical clothes in one place and establish a migration museum."