Edinburgh International Fashion Festival 2012 Preview
'If Paris, London and Milan can, why not Edinburgh?' We at The Skinny imagine this is how the conversation that will result in the Edinburgh International Fashion Festival (EIFF) began. Set in mid-August, the event should benefit from the general buzz and tourism of the Fringe; indeed, it seems that fashion is the only cultural art form not yet represented during in its vast programme.
EIFF's organisers (the people behind Edinburgh’s successful Noir! events) seem to share this sentiment, calling it ‘an overdue addition to Edinburgh’s International Festivals.’ As with Noir! events, the idea is to showcase fashion as an art form, and to explore the connections between it and the fields of science, architecture and design.
The line-up includes a host of exciting names, from Stella Tennant to Hussein Chalayan, and Rankin to Pam Hogg. But, perhaps more interestingly, rather than straightforward catwalk shows, the four day festival will feature a mixture of shows, masterclasses, exhibitions and talks. Set at Summerhall, Harvey Nichols and The National Museum of Scotland, this gives the event a truly academic and inclusive feel.
We’ve managed to obtain a programme taster which demonstrates the tone of the festival beautifully. Talks include an unmissable discussion of the connection between Art and Neuroscience by Professor Ludovica Lumer, entitled ‘Who Are We, and What Makes Us Who We Are?’ (in Summerhall’s Dissection Room from 12pm on the 16 August). Another tenet of Noir! events is to expose the public to the creative process, to fully immerse them in the art. EIFF Exhibitions, like Syn/Aesthesia, aim to do just that. Featuring photographic work by Juergen Teller, as well as Chalayan video instillations and an exclusive instillation by Pam Hogg (featuring Rankin photography), the aim is to ‘examine the synaesthetic genesis and expression of the creative idea.’ This exhibition runs throughout the Festival season, until the 6 September, at the Animal Hopsital in Summerhall.
Judging by the taster, it seems EIFF will add something truly and uniquely interesting to Edinburgh’s established festival season. [Emma Segal]