Alternative adj. relating to activities that depart from or challenge traditional norms

By Martin Walsh

Photograph © See Li Click here for more images

“Scottish weave like we’ve never seen it before”

CoolTan Arts graced the catwalk at the Alternative Fashion Show in Old Spitalfields Market on a promising and sun kissed afternoon, celebrating the alternative and debuting their latest collection, Twisted Tartan.

The Alternative Fashion Show exists for individuals, groups and charities who might usually fall by the wayside in the cut throat and competitive world of fashion. The brain child of Maggie Pinhorn & Amy Dyke-Coomes the Alternative Fashion Show provides a viable and popular platform for individual artists, charities and creative groups to showcase their catalogues and imaginations.

CoolTan Arts are no stranger to the Spitalfields runway; this is the third consecutive year they’ve strutted their fashion alternatives and promoted a true understanding for the need of a healthy alternative. Their designs and ideas grew from a collective of Southwark residents who regularly attend the weekly CoolTan Arts Batik workshop, led by Lydia Honeybone. Their theme this year was tartan, and the theme was twisted with pure ingenuity and craftsmanship.

The presentation of their collection started confidently to a pace perfectly matched and complemented by the live jazz band. Shimmering silk sashes of greens, purples, creams and oranges adorned the austere models, who boasted a great confidence and self assured determination.

Several minutes and models into the Twisted Tartan collection I was cocksure that I’d clocked their angle, style and tempo, and then I was completely bowled over and struck down. Their minimalist and muted style was turned on its head and shaken from its ankles by the hi-octane and vibrant Chief Executive of CoolTan Arts, Michelle Baharier. Baharier exploded in full and fun colour onto the runway commanding an excited applause and a notable increase in flashing and clicking cameras. To close, Cool Tan left the catwalk dancing the Can-Can and laughing amongst themselves, proudly breaking the stiff and tired rules crooned by an old crow flying from an old school.

Twisted Tartan crafted a dynamic that captured the attention and hearts of its audience. Anyone lucky enough to bear witness to this year’s Alternative Fashion Show and its wealth of variety in textures, colours, and creativity will likely never forget it. Contemporary art was perfectly woven into blissfully alternative fashion.

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