🌿 Rebooting the Archives: A Sunset Runway Moment at IFA Paris Istanbul

Genna Airam
Jul 3
2 min read

Updated: Aug 9

Some fashion moments don’t just unfold—they bloom.

On the evening of July 1st, under the warm Istanbul sun, I had the joy of attending the IFA Paris Istanbul Graduate Fashion Show 2025, held in none other than the dreamlike Palais de France. Set in the venue’s lush garden, this year’s runway was more than a show—it was a celebration, a reunion, a launchpad.

The theme? “Rebooting the Archives.”A call to dive deep into cultural roots, identity, and memory—and remix them for the future. And trust me, these young designers did not hold back.

Over a dozen collections walked down the garden runway, each one telling its own story—some whispered, some roared. Think: silhouettes soaked in nostalgia, textiles that felt like family heirlooms, and styling that challenged, honored, and reimagined tradition all at once.

✨ The Atmosphere

Before the show began, we gathered for a cocktail hour where designers, students, stylists, ex-models, and media creatives mingled under the golden light. It was one of those nights that felt like a film set: glasses clinking, fabrics rustling, excitement bubbling quietly under every conversation. It felt like Istanbul—old-world beauty and new-age brilliance colliding.

Then the runway began, and just as the sun dipped below the trees, the models glided across the garden to the sound of curated beats, each look daring us to feel, remember, and dream. My camera couldn’t rest. I was snapping away, and each frame felt like a visual poem.

🌱 Behind the Scenes

Events like these don’t just “happen.”Credit must go to the IFA Paris Istanbul Campus team, especially:

Prof. Merve Tuna, the guiding light behind so many of the student journeys
Adile Cretellaz, Director of the Istanbul Campus and its visionary founder
Jean-Baptiste Andreani, Director/Principal of IFA Paris
And a shoutout to Ece Taskaya, a first-year Fashion Marketing student who hosted the evening with such confidence and grace

🎓 More Than a Graduation

As the applause rang out and the final looks took the runway, it became clear: this wasn’t just the end of an academic journey—it was the beginning of something real. Something powerful.

I left inspired. Moved. Rewired, even reminded me why we document, why we photograph, why we write.

So here’s to the graduates, to the next generation of fashion visionaries—and to the stories they’ll soon tell.

Stay tuned for a BTS reel coming to Fashion Gins soon. And to all my fellow dreamers: this is your sign to keep showing up for beauty, meaning, and the moments that matter.

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📸 Photos by me, Genna Airam Fashion Media MBA Student at IFA Paris Istanbul