“Making bolder choices unlocks the value of the art of Leather and Choreography.”
In addition to products such as trousers, skirts, shirts, coats, jackets, coats and bodies, even leather bikinis have been included in the collections of some designer companies in recent years. The fact that the leather can be reached to the desired fineness by shaving has facilitated the production of these products.
Mr. Asil, we would like to get to know you first.
In 2000, I became the 1st in the competition opened by Yeni Asır Newspaper, which is the local press in Turkey, and I started modeling after being 1st in an international competition in the same year. I have worked on numerous fashion shows and shootings for many years. I took part in the campaigns of many famous companies as an advertising face. We organize all kinds of events, advertisements, organizations, fashion shows and beauty contests within the body of Asil Çağıl Event Office, which I established with my cousin in 2010.
What is your view on leather art as a successful choreographer? What do you think it means when you say leather?
Leather, which has always had a special place in fashion, appears in a different way and with a different interpretation every year, both in clothing and decoration. Leather has been in our lives since the beginning of human history. The use of leather in clothing, including the concept of fashion, dates back to the 1960s. In this period, Italian fashion clothing designers, who were in search of new products, directed the companies that produce leather and ensured the production of leather that could be used easily in clothes. Thus, leather started to take its place on the world fashion platform.
How often do you work on leather in fashion and fashion shows?
We organize leather fairs and special leather fashion shows every year at certain intervals.
How do you choreograph the leather fashion shows?
To summarize briefly, in leather fashion shows, we first determine the theme, then the venue, stage, model staff and accessories to be used in the fashion show, hair and make-up are determined. Then, we combine them all with fashion show music and stage shows. This is just a few items that seem basic, there are hundreds of details, of course, if all of them are compatible with each other, the work is successful.
What would you like to say about leather fashion in the historical process?
While leather is generally used in accessory products such as shoes, bags and belts, Italian ready-made clothing designers directed leather manufacturers to produce leather for clothing, especially in the 1960s and 70s. Leather, which has gained the feature of being used in clothes in terms of color, texture, fineness and weight; has played a major role in the emergence of original designs in the fashion clothing industry, which is constantly in search of new ones. In order for leather to continue to be used in fashion clothing designs and to develop, leather manufacturers continue their work even today and offer a wide variety of examples. Such development of leather and its ease of use in the fashion clothing industry has prompted many Designer brands. They have heavily included leather designs in their collections. Especially after 2000, the number of collection examples in which leather products stand out is quite high. The fashion shows, which took place in fashion centers such as Paris, Milan, New York and London, gave direction to all fashion establishments. Major brands such as Gucci, Givenchy, Versace, Ferre, Karl Lagerfeld, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren led the way in this regard, and their leather collections aroused great interest all over the world.
As a choreographer on leather in Turkey, do you focus on fairs or do you also work on company shoots?
I usually choreograph fashion shows, but within Asil Çağıl Event Office, we do everything from a company’s PR to shooting, from its catalog to its corporate identity. We have very good teammates in this field.
How has fashion-oriented Leather been used in recent years?
Especially in recent years, due to the ability of leather to be used almost like fabric, it has ensured its usability in all kinds of products. In addition to products such as trousers, skirts, shirts, coats, jackets, coats and bodies, even leather bikinis have been included in the collections of some designer companies in recent years. The fact that the leather can be reached to the desired fineness by shaving has facilitated the production of these products.
Within the triangle of stylist, fashion and choreographer, what are the issues that you have difficulty in fashion shows?
The most difficult issue in the organizations we have held recently is that the production budgets are too high for the companies. Now, most companies take part in mixed fashion shows in fair organizations with multiple participation. It is very costly to organize fashion shows and events alone. It becomes impossible to do the job when there are hundreds of items such as venue, production, cocktail in the venue, model budget and more.
The challenges of doing business in the fashion world as a choreographer?
As a choreographer, it is a big problem that people who do not know this job are doing our job and being called choreographers and being on the same platform. Not everyone should do everything. I shouldn’t be a painter just because I went to painting course for 3 months. Or we should not take acting training for 2 months and say I am an actor. People think that it is very easy to do anything lately.
Finally, what are your thoughts and experiences on choreography in the leather industry? How can the deficiency that you say absolutely must be completed in the sector?
In general, I can say that the choreography is shaped according to the expectations and budgets of the companies. We see that the fashion shows of prominent companies in the world are enriched artistically with some shows and sometimes make a difference with the selected stage performances. I believe that it is necessary to make more courageous choices instead of talking about a shortcoming. Of course, the vision of the companies is very important in this regard.
Thanks for the interview, Mr. Asil
I thank you for the good work.
