DINA KEMAL MARCHANT ON SELF EXPRESSION, COMFORT, AND POSITIVE ARMOUR
Dina Marchant is the founder and course director of Stories of Art, a London-based company that offers specialist art history courses, events and lectures. She studied at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Christie’s and the V&A and, before pursuing her interest in art, worked as a management consultant in London and as a banker in Amsterdam and Kazakhstan.
Do you have a uniform or personal style code?
I’d describe my style as individualistic: I like to be fashionable but edgy. I’m not interested in trends and I never wear brand logos. I like to discover unknown designers that I find at Dover Street Market in London and L’Eclaireur in Paris. I also like Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons – clothes with personality that are unusual. I see clothing as sculpture: something I construct for myself.
How did you discover Manifestations?
I knew Aigana as an artist so I was surprised by her clothes because the birds and patterns are not like her paintings. It’s a completely different facet of her work. Her art is more abstract whereas her coats are more expressive.
The name Manifestations comes from the idea of a woman manifesting her own creativity, vision and strength when she wears it. What do you manifest when you wear yours?
That absolutely rings true. Wearing Manifestations is a form of self-expression for me. It transmits who I am and says that I’m different from the crowd, not mainstream. It shows that you have something to say.
Tell us about your favourite Manifestations Pieces?
I was first drawn to a red Attila coat although I don’t normally wear bright colours. It’s my dream coat. I love the quality and finishes and how they’re one person’s work, not something mass produced. I also love the grey coat with silver swallows; the cloud jackets that are beaded as if they’re dripping with rain; and the ones with the hand-painted panther. I love how one piece makes your whole outfit. Done.
When do you wear Manifestations?
I wear them on an everyday basis to feel beautiful and to make a statement at art events. Clothes can be like a mini gallery, a curated collection that creates intrigue and puts people in a good mood.
Can you tell us about reactions to it?
Wearing them is a great icebreaker. I wore mine to Art Basel Hong Kong. The day I arrived, I was walking down Queen’s Road and someone came up to me to compliment the coat and we ended up talking and it was like that through the whole fair. I was invited to participate in an exhibition by someone I met there – the coat led them to me. Its aura is like a cloud of good energy, as it’s an extension of Aigana’s personal energy.
Dina Merchant wearing the bespoke white silk Atman (summer) coat
In nomadic cultures, coats often carry heightened symbolic and actual value, much like medieval armour. Does this resonate with your experience in any way?
Yes, I do feel that it’s protective but also that you need to be confident to wear it: to feel that you’re in a good place, that you’re creative and strong and that you’re happy to share your inner world. It conveys an extra dimension of my personality and saves me time and energy in silently describing who I am to the outside world. It’s a positive armour: it says that you’re special and makes you stand out a bit in other people’s eyes.
Are you a collector?
Yes, in that I collect knowledge. I do buy and hang art in my home but I wouldn’t call it a collection.
What’s your favourite place to visit?
Asia: Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and India. I’m fascinated by the cultures and find the kindness and hospitality of the people very special.
What’s on your wishlist?
Next I’d like some bright, floaty dresses, a statement hat and of course another Manifestations coat. I’ve found my true designer – I trust her so I don’t have to shop. There’s a further sense of pride and connection because Aigana is from Kazakhstan, which is also my home country.