Reina de las Fabricas

Thursday 16 February 2017

FASHION BEYOND FABRICS...JOHANNA ORTIZ

“There is always a Latin influence in my designs, it could be the colors, the print, the textures or the volumes, it is all a mix of our festive background and abundant biodiversity. Johanna Ortiz

Guo Pei, Dolce and Gabban and the all-time legend Alexander Macqueen are known for the creation of dresses beyond the “art for art sake” note. Guo Pei creates mind blowing and exceptional pieces laced with strong aura of national pride and cultural expression, undoubtedly the pride of Chinese fashion and Macqueen's Savage Beauty, a beautiful interpretation of the occupation of Scotland. Johanna Ortiz is a yet another designer who makes the business of dress making more than an artistic expression but also a statement. Alessandra Codinha for Vouge stressed the beauty of Ortiz’s dresses which are far more than the marriage of fabric and femininity but the expression of patriotism. Can a pretty party dress also make a political statement? Johanna Ortiz thinks so. The well-established Colombian purveyor of ruffled feminine frocks has found increasing success for her statement silhouettes in the American market. But that doesn't make her any less concerned with what's going on back at home.

Ortiz began designing her Spring collection when it looked like Colombia would be ratifying a landmark peace treaty with the FARC rebels that would put an end to a 52-year conflict—one that has claimed the lives of an estimated 260,000 people. But on Sunday, a low number (38 percent) of Colombian voters turned out and the peace deal was narrowly defeated in a referendum in another Brexit-like shock to the system. So, when Ortiz embroiders Give Peace A Chance on the back of one of her military green ruffled tops, it's not just because it's cute. She really means it.

Ortiz's most successful designs have a sort of fête-ready flair. There are wiggle skirts with cascading ruffles, sultry off-the shoulder blouses, and snug lace separates with dramatic sleeves and strategic flounce. Even with the passion of making a political statement, the collection is not dampened in the political situation. Most of the collection took inspiration from her native Colombia, from its legacy of magical realism to its less fortunate realities. A darker section matched a verdant green with black lace and was inspired by “the light through the trees in the forest,” said Ortiz, pointing out some subtly sequined bird designs.

This is what is most interesting for me, the cuts are so simple like the words that jump at you from a children’s novel. But you only have to look at them in a matter of seconds to see the innocence of each creation, the vibrate and ethnicity that floods each creation. And the delicacy of the fabric and the soft colours, it is safe to say that the modern day woman who is bold yet shy, independent yet delicate, sultry yest polite would work well with ever piece in her collections.

Her Spring/Summer collection has a play with cool colours and her execution of pieces in Army dream is beyond a dream. She explores ruffles as well, an art i must say sits well with her collection (I am not a fan of ruffles but as do a few designers like Zuhair Murad, she make me rethink ,my stand).

Resort 2017

Spring/Summer 2017

"Nothing lives within itself. The birth of one is the birth of another and the death of another still a birthing"...Mona Theresa

Sources: http://www.italianist.com

http://www.vogue.co.uk

https://www.pinterest.com

Monday 21 November 2016

HELLO NIGERIA-LISA FOLAWIYO

While the fashion world celebrates the Autumn/Winter Season, I sit with a glass of fine wine watching the Nigerian industry blossom into a damsel of international envy. Salute then to the Nigerian celebrities who have tuned to the MAIN stream (Made in Nigeria). Do we have a long way to go? Yes. Have we gone a long way? Yes. Nigerian Designers are becoming more than fabric loving people, we are also breeders of fabric evolution. Andrea Iyamah, Style Temple, April by Kumbi, Kathy Anthony to name a few, literally.

Lisa Folawiyo a Nigerian fashion designer has proven herself effortlessly as among the brightest fashion designers. Her Autumn / Winter collection 2015 marries a spectacularly cool palette of colors, prints and textures. In the autumnal spirit, hems are decorated with oak leaves and maple while pieces of paper shaped cut fabrics adorn some parts in the creation of her look book, the dead leaves scattered on the ground that strengthen the autumnal atmosphere.

Here Is what I love about her. While this is but a glimpse of the dynamism she displays, she makes fabric feel like rubber, flexible and impossibly submissive. I must say she strikes me as a pace setter and permit me to say, a whisperer. While the silhouette of each piece is fluent and uncomplicatedly spelt out, the material is a spectacle featuring prints shaped in oak and maple tree which are reflected, withered and dying, on the setting of the collection while translating the theme and idea of the collection- “Transition and journey”.

Folawiyo explains that “movement, transition, and growth” are key driving forces in this collection as seen in the arrow prints on patterns, embroidery and straps of some of the pieces. Those arrows therefore perfectly embody the essence and purpose of the collection.

Lisa Folawiyo perfected the art of wearing Ankara (local West African cloth) through the use of ornate embellishment. By incorporating texture with this culturally established traditional textile, Lisa Folawiyo transformed the textile and created a globally coveted print. This conceptual and global design hybrid has been the key to Lisa Folawiyo’s success.

Fused with its very own African-inspired custom luxury prints, the Lisa Folawiyo collection skillfully delivers contemporary garments. With a strong eye for tailoring and fit, Folawiyo creates feminine and modern silhouettes with nods to traditional African aesthetics. http://www.lisafolawiyo.com/