Gaspard Yurkievich: Element of Surprise
By Michelle Taylor

PARIS, Jan 24, 2004/ FW/ ---The surreal and contemporary Gaspard Yurkievich turned day into night at a central Paris disco in mid afternoon, made martial artists into models and demonstrated that his clothes are highly versatile.

A green and red laser light show illuminated his disciplined athletes as their Master called fight instructions, before turning on their heels and walking to the stage to pose for the fashion world.

A trend already apparent after only the first day of men’s collections here in Paris is that the designers are looking to the everyday for inspiration, from the most banal to eccentric.

All however, seem to play a part in the male world, like sport and music. This tapping into the real is so obvious that it remains charming and almost surreal.

Yurkievich takes sportive elements and turns them into street wear and vice versa.

Gym greys are used for sweat shorts and worn with a collarless shirt, while a navy and green checked suit has unfinished edging. His autumn winter 2004/05 collection is functional and ironic.

Country scenes are printed or embroidered onto the backs of jackets, as are crystals. Optical and graphic design plays a large role in his comfortable and roomy pieces.

Black and white stripes are effective on pants with elastic waists and large polka dots appear on a sweater, even a down parka is stitched with an optical circular pattern.

The spectacle took place in silence, only with the sounds of traditional war screams and hands and feet hitting objects or other body parts, and hence the final surprise is the key to understanding Yurkievich’s way of thinking.

Two opponents faced each other and then the unexpected; the Pet Shop Boys began to play over the sound system...I love You; the words rang out in true pop idol style!

Gaspard Yurkievich uses the element of surprise as his secret weapon.

His fashion is ideally about having fun reinterpreting the existing and mixing elements in such a way that would not normally be expected, and this is where his creative mind is free from all pre- and mis-conceptions.

Gaspard Yurkievich

Gaspard Yurkievich

Gaspard Yurkievich

Gaspard Yurkievich