GmbH, led by Benjamin Huseby and Serhat Işık, made a powerful political statement at the close of Paris Men's Fashion Week, expressing a plea for peace in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine. Both designers, second-generation immigrants, draped themselves in Palestinian Keffiyeh scarves and addressed the audience before the show, emphasising their interest in fashion as a medium for intercultural exchange and the need for precision in words during dangerous times.
They highlighted GmbH's mission over the last six years to showcase the beauty of their heritage, affirming their humanity as children of Muslim immigrants in Europe. Huseby and Işık spoke about their recent months of collective therapy and protests in Berlin, London, and Paris in response to the intense emotions and helplessness evoked by the situation in Palestine. They also called attention to the parallel rise of Antisemitism and Islamophobia globally.
The fashion collection itself reflected the designers' political stance, incorporating classic GmbH tailoring with nods to the ongoing geopolitical issues. Some looks featured the Keffiyeh reworked into boxy jackets in the colours of the Palestinian flag, while a black t-shirt displayed a print of a dripping watermelon, an unofficial emblem of Palestine. A hoodie with the United Nations logo further conveyed their message.
The casting of models from immigrant backgrounds underscored the designers' commitment to representing diverse communities, with individuals like Turkish designer Dilara Findikoglu and Edward Buchanan from Perfect mag walking the runway. The collection also derived inspiration from the famous 2002 speech of India's most popular author, Arundhati Roy.
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