Erdem Moralioglu is a British-Canadian fashion designer based in London, England. He founded his self-named brand ERDEM in 2005. Next, he opened his first boutique in 2015. The brand is celebrating its 15th anniversary with its resort 2022 collection.
Celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Keira Knightley have worn his designs to red-carpet events. He has also designed costumes for New York’s Royal Ballet and for performances at London’s Royal Opera House.
The British Fashion Council named him Women’s Wear Designer of the Year in 2014. Soon after, in 2017, he won International Canadian Designer of the Year. Like comedian and actor Humza Arshad, Moralioglu is also a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Erdem Moralioglu pursued fashion in London
After graduating from Marionopolis College in Quebec, Moralioglu earned his B.A. in Fashion from Ryerson University in Toronto. He then began working as an intern for the English fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.
In 2000, Moralioglu moved to London to study fashion at the Royal College of Art. There, he received the British Chevening Scholarship for foreign students with leadership qualities. Moralioglu next earned his Master’s in 2003.
In 2005, the fashion designer launched his London-based label ERDEM. He then opened his first solo boutique, designed by his architect husband, in London’s Mayfair district in 2015. In 2017, Moralioglu collaborated with H&M to design a gender-inclusive line. Like fashion designer Maryam Nassir Zadeh, the line champions quality and slow fashion.
The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire appointed Moralioglu MBE for his contributions to fashion. He received the title during the Queen’s Birthday Honours, Queen Elizabeth II’s appointments to reward good works, in 2020.
Turkish-English Erdem Moralioglu grew up in Canada
Moralioglu was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1977. However, he split his childhood between Canada and Birmingham, England. His father is a Turkish engineer and his mother is English.
“I remember looking at [my mother’s] clothes and, not having the desire to wear them myself, but being obsessed by these things that made a woman a woman. She would have a friend over for tea and I was obsessed with how they looked,” he shared with Vogue.
The fashion designer’s twin sister Sara makes documentaries about natural history and geography for the BBC. “My sister and I are the only ones in the family born in Canada so we’re this anomaly – the freaky, weird twins,” Moralioglu said.
“Going through every stage of your development with someone who is the opposite sex is something I can’t escape in how I approach what I do,” he explained. “I’m not afraid of women, of bodies. I’m not trying to flatten things.”
In 2018, Moralioglu married architect Philip Joseph, who is also a twin. They met at London’s Royal College of Art.
ERDEM’s Resort 2022 Collection
ERDEM is known for its romantic and floral style. For the label’s 15th anniversary, Moralioglu looked back at previous years of collections to find new inspiration.
Erdem Resort 2022, Photo by Jason Lloyd Evans
“I found myself thinking about where we are, where we’re going, and how we’ve created these collections in London,” he told Vogue. “There’s nothing wrong with referencing yourself. It’s a good thing to look at the body of work you’ve created over the last 15 years.”
Erdem Resort 2022, Photo by Jason Lloyd Evans
“Rational, I think, is the right word,” he said about the resort 2022 line. “A rational approach to a hand-embroidered red organza broderie anglaise gown with 3D flowers on it, punctuated by a black grosgrain belt.”
Erdem Resort 2022, Photo by Jason Lloyd Evans
“It felt like a love letter to the archetypes of Englishness,” he said.
Erdem Resort 2022, Photo by Jason Lloyd Evans
View Moralioglu’s full collection here.
