Biography
Erdem Moralioglu is the eponymous founder of fashion label Erdem, which he started in 2005 with a collection of softly sweeping dresses and floral prints, now a part of his signature aesthetic. The half-Turkish and half-British designer was born in Montréal, where he also grew up and took an interest in fashion at a young age.
Moralioglu earned a bachelor's degree in fashion at Ryerson University in Toronto before moving to London in 2001 to attend the Royal College of Art, having been inspired by his mother, who hailed from Birmingham, to steep himself in British culture and fashion. He interned at Vivienne Westwood and a stint at Diane von Furstenberg after graduation took him to New York for a year, but he quickly returned to establish his home base and studio in Shoreditch in East London.
Since then, the designer has won fans and critical acclaim with his blend of overtly feminine silhouettes and moody, meticulous prints. The brand has received numerous accolades over the years, including the 2008 British Fashion Council 's Fashion Forward Award; the 2010 inaugural Vogue / British Fashion Council Designer Fashion Fund Award, the 2012 British Fashion Council's New Establishment Award, the 2013 British Fashion Council's Red Carpet Award, the 2014 British Fashion Council's Womenswear Designer of the Year Award, the 2015 British Fashion Council's Establishment Designer Award, the 2016 Fashion Group International Fashion Star Award.
Erdem is sold in over 170 retailers, including Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Selfridges and Le Bon Marche. The brand has a shop in Saks Fifth Avenue, launched an e-commerce store in 2014 and opened its debut flagship store in London's Mayfair in 2015. The brand has also collaborated with H&M in 2017, and a beauty collection with NARS and the Royal Ballet for Christopher Wheeldon's production, Corybantic Games, in 2018.
In November 2019, the brand appointed its first chief executive, former Chloé Managing Director Philippa Nixon.