IN THE FRAME
Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili
Five minutes with the breakout talent from MBFW Tbilisi
Published in May 2019
How To Pronounce "Akhalkatsishvili"
If you’ve been following fashion week in Tbilisi (which happens twice yearly in May and November), you’ll recognize the name Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili. As the award-winning designer behind not one but two of Georgia’s best-known labels—Matériel, which he co-designs with Lado Bokuchava, and his eponymous line—Akhalkatsishvili is already deeply respected and established locally.
With Georgian fashion quickly expanding onto the international stage (thanks, in part, to the industry-shaping success of Georgia-born Demna Gvasalia of Balenciaga and Vetements), all eyes are on Akhalkatsishvili. In short: his star is set to rise—and you’d be wise to invest now. This season, a 600-strong crowd of buyers, editors, and fans turned up to catch his latest lineup of coveted faux leather (he refuses to use animal products), brightly-hued suiting, and coolly draped dresses.
We caught up with the designer after the show. Read on.
BEST MOMENTS FROM THE FALL '19 SHOW?
When I heard applause during the finale and saw people had tears in their eyes. Everyone was feeling very emotional and so was I.
RUNWAY SOUNDTRACK?
"Les Moulins de Mon Cœur” by Kathleen Fortin, from Xavier Dolan’s movie Tom à la Ferme.
WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
My favorite genre is classical music, symphony, and opera.
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
I actually have no time to relax, but when I do I go somewhere quiet and surround myself with nature.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR BRAND?
Conservative, strong, useful.
BRAND SIGNATURES?
Minimalism, straight, strict lines, masculine yet feminine silhouettes. I try to design clothes that people will want to wear for years.