A BLOG presents the project ELEVEN by Boris Bidjan Saberi, as official media partner for this rich creative program for Fall Winter 2010. Follow as we unfold an eleven-part series about this sub-cultural event & its creative rebound in Berlin.

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ELEVEN º1
by Nathini van der Meer, zweieinhalb.

The works of the Persian-German fashion designer Boris Bidjan Saberi distinguish themselves not only through a high level of aesthetics and premium processing, the measure of manufacturing itself is a primary part of his holistic working approach. The raw industrial vibe of his pieces clashes with an exceptional diligence and love for detail. He compares his working process to that of a mechanic. The designer himself is involved in most of the processing steps in his workshop located amidst the mountains near Barcelona.

His predominantly fuliginous designs always testify to his strive for innovation and a preference for the experimental use of fabrics and materials, yet always executed within the highest standards of craftmanship. Nonetheless, everything points towards his subcultural roots, which lie within urban street movement. Saberi himself describes his style as “Dark Hip Hop”.

Being known for his defiance of the fashion rigmarole Saberi not only sets special emphasis on his personal involvement in the execution of the single garment, he also enhances this message by trying to experiment with less apparent means of fashion presentation. In the past he has repeatedly transported his visions into art installations, rather than the conventional runway-moment, e.g. hanging the models statically from the ceiling or presenting the outfits on wooden sculptures rather than human bodies.

The upcoming presentation works against many measures of the generic fashion-agenda. Taking place in Berlin mid season on 18^th of November, the planned event rather has a performance character than that of a conventional fashion show. Inspired by the four pillars of Hip Hop culture it unites the elements of B-Boying, Graffity, MC-ing/Beatboxing and DJ-ing in a very abstracted way. Boris Bidjan Saberi manifests his past, recalling his cultural medium. The list of artists involved brings together the German champion of beatboxing, contemporary dance professionals, inter alia a guest dancer from a Pina Bausch ensemble, a visual concept based on works of a participant from Olafur Eliassons Institut für Raumexperimente, a light-design by the Pfadfinderei Berlin – to name just a few.

A hazy reinterpretation of urban street culture, reclaiming uninspired dead grounds, reanimating long-forgotten contents and values.