PRESS RELEASE
We are pleased to present
FLAIR! 2006
A CELEBRATION OF CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN DESIGN
The Concert
The Twilight Supper
The Fashion Parade
The Fashion Auction
Federation Square, 3rd March 2006, 6.30pm.
Most know the style and flair synonymous to the Italian craftsmen of furniture, lighting and home wares in general; however the greatest interest is immediately shown when Italian fashion is mentioned.
For the first time in Australia The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will introduce to Melbourne the remarkable labels of three of Italy’s most prestigious designer collections.
Class by Roberto Cavalli: men’s and women’s European Spring Summer 2006 collections, highlighting the total fashion range and stunning accessories (see history and fashion report).
Luigi Borrelli: the finest Collection of men’s fashion, from contemporary styling to the perfectly tailored classic collections that people aspire to (see history and report).
Roberta Scarpa: an amazing collection embodying Italian design flair with a youthful, yet very feminine approach to today’s life style. (See history and report).
Local producer Christopher Horne will direct the show with make-up by Sue Barnes for Duco Cosmetics and hair styling by American Crew at Meddlers of South Yarra.
This exciting, high energy European Collection will be showing 9.30pm, Friday 3rd March, BMW Edge Federation Square, in the presence of designers Luigi Borelli, Roberta Scarpa and the number one representative from Cavalli. For additional information or to receive future press releases please contact Cristiane Cunial at the Chamber on 9866 5433 or email : .
ROBERTO CAVALLI
ROBERTA SCARPA
LUIGI BORRELLI
THE COLLECTIONS
Roberto Cavalli is the man with true image, style and class. His three collections portray elegance and sophistication to a young inspirational market. The Cavalli fashion followers know what they want and have definite goals in life.
“Class by Cavalli”
A collection designed for men and women, a range with definite style. There is nothing left to chance. Stunning combinations of colour with rich textures combined into shirts, pants, t-shirts, suiting, skirts and dresses.
For him, a suit to suit every occasion. T-shirts with total individualism in design and a colour range second to none. Shirts in silk, some with added embellishments of appliqués and embroidery, pants from casual through to the formal and jackets to inter-coordinate throughout the entire range.
Cavalli sees the importance of the total coordinate looks with overlays of bold accessories. Adding ,throughout his collections, extra interests with vibrant colour tones.
The attention to detail is evident in each piece of the Class Collection. Exotic fabrics, fine embroidery onto to hand-printed fabrics and rich bold appliqués are all mediums used for the 2006 Spring Summer looks of Roberto Cavalli.
It is interesting to note that Cavalli utilises many of the finest and oldest techniques in tailoring and dress making in each of his ranges. The finest pintucking, beautiful rolled finishes, fine embroidery t finished with intense detail.
It is a collection that ranges from the casual with a chic style to a formal dress or suit that will work for you in any situation. To sum it up, this is a ‘class” act in dressing by Cavalli.
History Roberto Cavalli
Born in 1940 in Florence into an extremely artistic family, Roberto Cavalli enrolled aged 17 into the Institute of Art of Florence. His Grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi was a prolific painter and part of the Macchiaioli Tuscan Movement. His work is still exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery to this day. Cavalli followed in his creative footsteps when he chose to specialize in the textile applications of paint. His first creations, floral motifs on knitwear were a huge success and caught the attention of the major Italian hosiery industries.
Always a very original and innovative man, Cavalli continually experimented with new technologies to create new materials, culminating in his invention and patent of a revolutionary printing procedure on leather. This discovery enabled him to create his first patchworks which he brought to Paris. Hermes and Pierre Cardin were amongst his first clients.
By the age of thirty, Cavalli had presented his first signed collection at the salon for Prêt-a-Porter. This led to his taking part in the official presentation of the collections at the Pitti Palace in Florence, swiftly followed by a show in Milan. On the catwalk, his style and flair became evident, with leather patchwork and prints on denim and ornate decorations using precious metals in brocades, python, zebra and leopard prints.
So began his attraction for animal prints that today has become his brand signature. Appreciated by the most fashionable jet set, a young Brigitte Bardot wondered barefoot in Saint-Tropez, where the fashion designer opened his first boutique in ’72, wearing his sparkling and sumptuous creations.
What had been a fad became a trend and eventually a cult, as the Cavalli way of dressing transcended almost into a way of being. From the Hollywood stars to the customers that bought his clothes in the shops, the Roberto Cavalli style was and still is instantly recognizable. The style, which is slightly dramatic and theatrical whilst immensely flattering of the female form, consistently utilizes the latest technologies to create patterns and a palette of vibrant colors, which are always being renewed. In a sharp series of oppositions a particular harmony is formed as interplay of varying excesses takes place, opposing one to another as extreme balances out each other.
In September 1994, Cavalli presented his new jeans collections in Milan. Already by the December of the same year, a boutique had been opened in Saint Barth in the French Caribbean, followed by one in Venice and another in Saint-Tropez. A diffusion line – Just Cavalli was founded in 1998 and further to this came RC Menswear, Angels and Devils – a line of children’s clothing, Class for Knitwear, Freedom for casual, two underwear collections, one beachwear, shoes, eyewear, watches, perfumes, and an interior design line for the home.
Cavalli loves nature and to be surrounded by animals in his villa on the hills surrounding Florence where he still lives with his wife, Eva Duringer, a former Miss Universe and their 3 children. Married in 1980, Eva was very involved with the business then and is to this day. The family spends summers on their 41-meter yaught and Cavalli is also an avid pilot who is very fond of his personal helicopter, an Ecureuil.
Cavalli is a man who loves challenges, in 2002 he inaugurated the opening of his café boutique in Florence, the Giacosa Café, personalizing it with his animal prints, but retaining the essence of what has always been considered as one of the city’s most historic teahouses. A feat followed even in Milan with Just Cavalli café of Torre Branca and another in Via Spiga.
Cavalli is also able to spot talent and styles in others and has built rewarding relationships with some of modern society’s most avidly followed worldwide stars, from Lenny Kravitz and Britney Spears to Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce Knowles – all whom frequently wear Roberto Cavalli and are true testament to his enduring and burgeoning success.
June 2004 – Roberto hosted the SUMMER PARTY at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Guests included Simon Le Bon, Jude Law, Sharleen Spiteri, Jade Jager and our own Elle McPherson.
2005 – White tie and Tiara Ball, for the Elton john Aids charity, hosted by Elton John and co hosted by Sharon Stone. Eva Herzigova, along with David and Victoria Beckham, all wore Cavalli gowns and suits.
The 77th Academy Awards – Saw Cavalli designs worm by actress Catalina Sandino Moreno, best supporting actress nominee, and the music artist Beyonce Knowles during her live performance at the Kodak Theatre.
“Roberta Scarpa”
Smart and very snappy are the words that explain this range that incorporates all techniques to give one the total look.
This collection covers the complete gamut of selective dressing. Patterns on patterns, soft looks in skirts or dresses combine with structured jackets in cottons and silk, separate or combine through to denim are the key to the style for this oncoming hot 2006 summer.
There is no in betweens when it comes to the use of the finest cottons, the rich image of denim is portrayed in several lengths, from shorts to nicker bocker, three quarter and full length pants, richly studded or jewelled to make key eye catching pieces.
Overlay, layered tops in sheers, richly jewelled with beads or fine floating panels, designs with alluring style.
Scarpa creates a “girl look” in the coloured sheers, elegant silks and put together in perfect-layered ways. This is where one can add the heavier fabrics with the soft.
Her artistic designs in her prêt a porter feminine lines are a perfect challenge with new technology an unmistakable mix emphasized also by a methodical matching of various materials and processing a contrast to each dress or pattern
History of Roberta Scarpa
Roberta Scarpa was born in Venice and grew on the perspective of this artistic city. She has been signing her prêt-a –porter feminine line since 1992, produced by “GRUPPO Dressing” of Treviso, combining the most refined traditions of the "Serenissima" with new technological methods. An unmistakable mix emphasized by a methodical matching of various materials and processes.
Roberta Scarpa’s exclusive designs have attracted much attention and publicity in media from Vanity Fair, Novella Duemila, Elle, Per Me, Io Donna, Absolute Madrid, Chi and Gala, following through to television in Picasso Strings with Roberta Scarpa, Frauke Ludowig on RTL, Adriana Lima in the TIM SPOT and Emanualle Folliero at Stranamore. Roberta’s designs have also featured in film, worn by Claire Forlano in “THE SHADOW DANCER” and also by Ester Canadas in the film “TRILEROS”. Simona Izzo, wore Scarpa design at the presentation of her self directed film “IO NO”.
Roberta was also the winner of “Designer of the Year” at the Miami fashion week in May 2005.
“Luigi Borrelli”
This is Italian men’s wear at its finest. Master tailors utilising every secret within the trade to make the most perfect garment, be it suit, jacket, shirt, knit, tie, t-shirt or accessory.
Everything has its place, hand stitched finishes, and extra hand tailored treatments to the jacket collar, pockets and cuff button treatments.
From young innovations in the most superb array of colours, to the most sophisticated classic line you will find anywhere in the world. His suits are artistic pieces, using silk in linings, hand stitched to wool and cashmeres and wearable exotic blends and ,if that is not enough, each piece is individually numbered and signed by its maker.
Borrelli inherits the "Neapolitan taste" to wear and propose it to everyone who thinks that wearing the finest cloth represents one of the little pleasure in the life thanks to the special care for details, selection of fabrics and colours.
A Borrelli cloth is a real "CULT", showing the tradition of the past and the elegance of the present.
Borrelli´s client is a person who loves the passion of quality and appreciates the detail in each individual item. These are the ethics that have been instilled into each generation of the Borrelli family.
No other item better symbolizes what the Borrelli label represents than the Borrelli shirt. The selection of the finest fabrics, the unmistakable cutting, the scrupulous attention to detail, these are all part of tradition centered on achieving the utmost in quality and fit. Double stitching to a shirt with the French cuff or single, it’s all the same, flawless.
The final result is impeccable, and like any great masterpiece, the shirt is signed by a Borrelli tailor, certifying its uniqueness.
A Borrelli shirt is not only a garment to be worn but also a way of thinking, a real fashion classic.
History of Luigi Borrelli
In 1904 Anna Borrelli started work in her aunt’s laboratory for men’s shirts, where she learnt the art of making sartorial pieces. An art form made of details such as a perfect “mouche”, collar sewing or the famous Neapolitan crush-shirt. Because of her care, dexterity and imagination, in 1918 Anna could open a small Atelier for a restricted circle of “dear” customers; in the 1940’s her son Luigi supported her and learnt all the secrets of her art.
With Luigi the family company began to grow up, focusing mostly on a careful craftsmanship of its own products. Nowadays Luigi still recounts when he observed the details of some competing products and treasured them for his pieces. Although that was a time of great confidence in industrial process, the L.B manufacture goes on increasing. In 1957 “Luigi Borrelli Camiceria” was founded. It was the first step to the industrial reality.
At the beginning of the 1980” Fabio, Luigi’s son, manufactured pieces made of high-sartorial details, made of high quality fabrics, enriched by mother of pearl buttons and fine colours. This is the result of a creative and well-organized industrial process. So Borrelli’s product becomes such a piece of art for every wardrobe. It is destined to last for long time and be a pleasure to wear. L.B pieces remain soft to the touch and represent a status symbol in public relations.
“Luigi Borrelli S.p.A” consolidates its own position. Its shirts have crossed the oceans, counting customers such as Al Pacino and Pavarotti; they are shown on the shelves of Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in New York, at Wilkes Bashford in San Francisco, at Bruno in London, at Louis in Boston, at United Arrows in Japan and in Moscow as well.
In the 1990’s workers grew to 90 units with production reaching 40 to 700 shirts a day. The export rate rose to 82%: 30% in the United States, 21% in Germany, 16% in Japan, the balance in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Middle and Far East and Russia.
Nowaday7s Borrelli offers “total look” line: suits, shirts, trousers, jeans, ties, blouses, knitwear, beachwear, shoes, leather goods and underwear at last. Many new ideas but still retaining the “leit-motive,” link to tradition and high quality products.
Borrelli’s plants are only located in Italy, in which all the main working processes take place. This guarantees a direct control on the whole process. The company has six pleats, in association with partners, using the “know how” demanded by Borrelli itself, especially for ties, suits and leather goods. All plants are located in the industrial area of Nocera Inferiore. In 2002 to 2004 Borrelli succeeded in the decentralization from its historical site in San Senastiano al Vesuvio to reorganize all activities.