L.A. Fashion Week Fall '08: Suh-Tahn
Suh-Tahn went beyond the borders of Europe to find inspiration for Fall ’08. Design duo Shannon Nastaf and Dimitri Tcharfas presented their collection on March 10 for the first time at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif. According to the designers, the collection combined European refinement with the practices and traditions utilized in tribal costuming. “We find inspiration from what we are automatically drawn to—the balance between the concrete and nature and trying to find the space in between,” Nastaf said. The collection of menswear and womenswear was a sophisticated blend of European tailoring techniques and tribal accents. Angular shapes and architectural lines were remixed in a modern way to create the design lines on coats. Dresses had slash marks on side seams and leather tribal collars topped off various ensembles for a modern edge. Classic wool coats were updated with elaborate seam details, and jackets featured zipper details. A mixture of Old World and contemporary materials was utilized, including leather, wool, silk, cotton, cashmere, bengaline and lace. Unusual draping techniques were applied to dresses and skirts, and hidden belts added an intriguing twist to the traditional. —N. Jayne Seward
