London, Sept 22: Polish-born Arkadius Weremczuk kicked off London's five-day celebration of fashion on Saturday with a Spring/Summer collection entitled 'United States of Mind'. The show drew inspiration from the Middle East, mixed with American and western imagery. Colours were almost exclusively the red, white and blue of the U.S. flag. Arkadius teamed dollar bill skirts with tops emblazoned with stars and stripes and painted a huge image of New York's statue of Liberty on a long black chiffon dress. Among the more attention-grabbing items, though, were several wearable pieces. Bleached denim was tailored into fitted jackets and slim jeans, and cotton tops were teamed with tiny mini skirts. The designer took to the catwalk after the show dressed in a traditional Arabic gown with the American flag embroidered on his chest and wearing a traditional Arabic scarf.
"What inspired me, it was mainly the political situation of the world today and also how the Middle East is treated by the so-called West unfairly," he said.
"This is why it was -- in a way -- paying tribute to a wonderful culture, a wonderful achievements of the Middle Eastern countries."
Arkadius Weremczuk has earned a reputation as one of London's more provocative showmen. He launched his label in 1997 after taking a double first at Central St Martin's college in London.
Arkadius returned to the London catwalk after showed in New York in February, where he was also designing the costumes for Placido Domingo's May production of Don Giovanni for the Los Angeles Opera and Polish National Opera.
He opened his own shop in London in 2002 and his first Eastern European store in Warsaw last year. Bureau Report