Bora Aksu’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, unveiled during London Fashion Week, was a deeply personal tribute to his late mother, Birsen. Set in the sunlit gardens of St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, the show blended nostalgic elegance with heartfelt emotion, honoring her life through delicate fabrics, vintage silhouettes, and floral motifs. Aksu’s mother had been an ever-present influence throughout his career, but this collection was his most direct homage yet, a love letter stitched into every seam.
Key pieces, like a hand-stitched white mini dress adorned with ostrich feathers, were salvaged from her estate, each garment carrying a personal story. Knitted twin sets and jacquard sweater vests recalled her early days as a young doctor in Turkey, while weightless silk tulle gowns reflected her nurturing side. Floral appliqués and prints inspired by the dahlias from her garden symbolized her love of nature, as she was happiest tending to her flowers, a detail woven into the collection's softer, feminine touches.
The 1960s influence was evident in the belted jackets and pencil skirts, while Aksu’s signature tiered tulle appeared in ethereal, almost-Grecian folds. Models walked the runway with bouffant beehives and cat’s eye sunglasses—an homage to Birsen’s personal style. Each piece felt like a bridge between past and present, a way of preserving Aksu’s memories of his mother as they faded with time.
In the end, Aksu reflected on the emotional depth of the collection, saying, “Fashion lives inside you.” With each design, he not only celebrated his mother’s life but also highlighted the profound grief of loss. This season’s collection wasn’t just an ode to his muse—it was a reminder that fashion, at its most powerful, connects us to the people and memories we hold dear.
