Why is the overly expensive Haute Couture considered to be a good thing in today’s world, where hundreds of millions go unclad and unfed, without any prospect of someday being a little better off? And incidentally, what does a country like Sakartvelo have to do with this swanky culture, and how has it contributed to this modern glamorous phenomenon, if at all?
As we are not powerful enough to handle human need and economic injustice, let us not try to find a universally accepted answer to these questions. Yet, in response to the first one, it is widely thought that the fashion-design industry functions, first and foremost, as a popular genre of art. Secondly, it has the valuable mission of preserving craftsmanship. Thirdly, it serves as a mother of innovation while providing employment.
Meanwhile, its moral side is just as profound an issue, posing a dilemma for society as it seeks justification for creating dresses that cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, only to be worn once and displayed as symbols of wealth in a world marked by glaring inequality. This assessment of the trend is as old as fashion itself, yet this glitzy human pursuit continues unabated and with remarkable success.
The relationship between this country and Haute Couture is not without interest, although it is relatively recent rather than foundational. The phenomenon itself originated in nineteenth-century France, with Paris serving as its renowned hub. This design culture refers to custom-made, handcrafted luxury fashion created by elite fashion houses under strict standards.
Georgia’s influence has come primarily through several contemporary, influential, and well-known fashion specialists who have built outstanding careers abroad. At the same time, there is a broader generation of Georgian designers who have attracted attention for combining cultural traditions, craftsmanship, and modern design. One of the most prominent among them is Temo Cherie, whose Christian and family name is Temur Tvalavadze.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Georgia’s artistic individuality, expressed through the dramatic outline of the chokha, the traditional male dress of the peoples of the Caucasus, its complex metalwork, rich carpet traditions, and powerful visual symbolism, has provided cultural inspiration and educational encouragement for designers from Sakartvelo. These are elements they continue to reinvent for global consumers and audiences.
If you ask the designers themselves, the fair and intelligent question is not whether someone out there would buy a couture dress. The more pertinent and clarifying question is whether humankind is capable of preserving beauty and artistic excellence while at the same time ensuring that nobody is deprived of food and clothing. The ideal world, one imagines, should strive for both, maintaining a reasonable balance among luxury, beauty, innovation, equality, and, most importantly, human well-being and happiness.
Judging by his innate human nature, family upbringing, taste, and education, Temo Cherie is undoubtedly committed to such a standard. Suffice it to look at his sister Tekla and speak with her for a minute. One might quickly understand the kind of family these young people come from and the human ideals to which these remarkable siblings dedicate themselves.
One of their close friends, Nina Tsagareli, a prominent figure in Georgian culture and an organizer of major international arts projects, has enthusiastically shared her assessment of Temo Cherie’s talent and work: “Amazing personality, caring brother, wonderful son, and, of course, an outstanding designer of world class.” True, very true!
Temo Cherie’s elevated sense of color, form, and line, his powerful design solutions balanced between the modern and the traditional, and his daring yet restrained vision for each of his emerging works of art make him, I would say, one of the strongest fashion designers in the world. There is nothing odd, bizarre, embarrassing, or disconnected in his gorgeous creations. They are marked by class and allure.
And who do you think he is in real life? A sweet, gentle, and witty young man, deeply in love with his native Georgia, whose thoughts are in complete harmony with what we call universal human ideals. Easy-going, smiling, and the epitome of human benevolence, Temo Cherie is always dressed and conducts himself as a professional designer should, serving as an example worthy of emulation.
This Georgian designer travels the globe, sharing his talent and skill with the rest of the world. And there is one final point worth mentioning: he wishes to remain in Georgia, to live here, and to influence the fashion world from his beloved Sakartvelo.
Lovely, isn’t it? Bravissimo, Temo!
Blog by Nugzar B. Ruhadze
