There were almost 270 nominations for the third edition of the Jameel Prize—an international award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition—from countries such as Algeria, Brazil, Kosovo, Norway, and Russia. The designers of Dice Kayek, Turkish sisters Ece and Ayşe Ege, came out as the winners.
In a conversation with Style.com/Arabia, Ayşe Ege, half of the Dice Kayek designer duo, expressed her joy on winning the international award. “We didn’t expect to win! It’s the first time that the Jameel Prize is given to fashion designers. It’s a true honor to exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum. When they announced the winners, we were thrilled!”
The winning collection, entitled Istanbul Contrast, was described by the Museum’s Director, Martin Roth, as a fashion collection that demonstrates “how vibrant and creative Islamic traditions continue to be today.” For winning, the designers were awarded a cash prize of £25,000 (US $40,773 / AED/SAR 149,780).
According the Ayşe Ege, the collection, which evokes Istanbul’s architectural and artistic heritage, was meant as an homage to Turkish culture. “Istanbul Contrast started in 2009 at the Ritz Bar in Paris during Fashion Week, and went on as a wandering exhibition at Le Musée des Arts Décoratifs one year later, before traveling to Istanbul and Amsterdam,” explained Ege.
The three Couture pieces (‘Hagia Sophia’, ‘Caftan’, and ‘Dome’) on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum make a nod to Istanbul’s Ottoman aesthetics. “The city of Istanbul itself has always been a major inspiration, as it is a bridge between tradition and modernity,” she added. “The Islamic architecture and the forms are reflected in the garments. That said, the style of the pieces stays modern; there is a very strong under-construction inside, which gives a sculptural look to the garment. We added many structural draping, pleating, and embroideries to reflect the rich textures seen in Ottoman art.”
Dice Kayek’s installation and the work of the shortlisted artists will be on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London until April 21s. The Turkish fashion designers are currently working on their upcoming Fall 2014 collection, and planning a presentation for the upcoming womenswear season in Paris.
“Unfortunately, Islamic-inspired fashion is still rare. Fashion should be international and universal, but the inspiration comes from your own culture, it’s quite evident. What we’re doing here goes beyond fashion itself.”
