Hungary - Eastern Europe - page 335

Extreme Fashion! Budapest's Avant-Garde Designers
While Hungary can't compete with the fashion capitals of Paris, New York,
or Milan, some trailblazers in the Hungarian fashion world are setting the
foundations again. They remember Hungary's prewar glamour, when
Budapest was termed the “Paris of Eastern Europe,” a notion quashed by
years of Communism and its attacks on creative self-expression. Now, sev-
eral established designers like Tamás Náray and Katti Zoób are catering to
the new upper class with some posh, pricey designs.
Tamás Király, meanwhile, is a true creative visionary who puts on shows
everywhere from New York to London—including several with the noted
designer Vivienne Westwood. Király is more of a fashion artist than a
“label” designer. He creates designs that could come out of some fantasy
dreamscape, and he takes part in numerous “performances.” Don't be sur-
prised if you see a model walking around Budapest with bizarre metallic
structures, followed by another in a costume and on crutches, with another
eating cotton candy off of the body of yet another model. If you see one of
these avant-garde fashion performances, it is likely that the event was
dreamed up by Tamás Király. If you decide to buy one of the creations,
though, you may be disappointed. They are probably not for sale. Király
truly lives on the outer edges of the classical “fashion world,” all while
being in the center of a unique creative world. He considers himself, mean-
while, the “most free designer in the universe.”
For more on the Budapest fashion scene, visit Pep! Magazine's website,
www.pepmagazin.hu (click “English”).
For information on Budapest Fashion Weeks, see www.budapestfashion
week.com and www.fashionweek.hu .
Vakondgyár Offering Hungarian youth fashion, this T-shirt boutique chain fea-
tures outrageous shirts designed by a whimsical young artist. Starting with the mole
figure—the cute key character that gave the brand its name—the shirts' self-indulgent
designs include fanciful insects, goofy Hungarian cartoon characters, and other New
Age logolike creations in a cacophony of color. Open Monday through Friday 10am
to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm. V. Magyar u. 52. & 20/222-5295. Metro: Kálvin tér (Blue line).
V50 Design Art Studio Fashion designer Valeria Fazekas has an eye for clothes
that are both eye-catching and elegant. Her hats are works of art. Prices are reason-
able, but she does not accept credit cards. She has a second shop at V. Belgrád rakpart
16, where she can often be found working late into the night in the upstairs studio.
Both shops are open Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm.
V. Váci u. 50. & 1/337-5320. Metro: Ferenciek tere (Blue line).
Folk Crafts
Except for a few specialty shops like the ones listed below, the stores of the formerly
state-owned Folkart Háziipar should be your main source for Hungary's justly
famous folk items. Almost everything sold at these stores is handmade—from table-
cloths to miniature dolls, from ceramic dishes to sheepskin vests. You can shop with