An ItAlIAn WeddIng dreAm

Cassey Oliveira takes a sneak peek at dreamy designs displayed by Italian fashion masters.

Italian Ambassador HE Andrea Ferrari inaugurates the event at TPQ. he Italian Wedding Dream, organised by the Italian Business Council of Qatar (IBCQ) in partnership with Al Fardan Sports Motor Company-Maserati was jam-packed with fierce fashion and fast cars. Gorgeous models proudly sashayed around in glamorous garments, while excited VIPs consumed dazzling pieces by Italian fashion designers. Day one at Maseratis showroom at The PearlQatar (TPQ) combined a display of spectacular sport automobiles with tailor-made wedding dresses and elegant gowns. IBCQ Chairwoman, Palma Libotte said, This event is a tribute to Italian style, design quality and craftsmanship which are the distinguishing
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features of Made in Italy. We chose Maserati showroom as a partner because it is a world renowned icon of Italian style. TPQ is the perfect location to inaugurate the event as the glamour of the Island goes hand-in-hand with the prestige of the event. The event moved to familiar surroundings the Sharq Hotel on day two and was dedicated to ladies only. GLAM was the media partner for both days. GLAM is the leading fashion magazine in Qatar that reaches our target audience the ladies of Qatar. We chose few but precious allies for this venture and are ready to discuss our next collaboration in autumn, added Palma.

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ArOUnd tOWn

GLAM caught up with the six designers to learn about their collections...
Oro and Seta by Sandra Scaroni and Patrizia Russo
Our collection unites Eastern traditions and Western design which emphasises the affinity between the ancient and noble Eastern and Western cultures. It involves the use of contrasting materials, such as gold, silver, silk and Murano glass. By pushing the boundaries of conventional fashion, the dress becomes a sculpture, embodying both the aesthetic and the artistic emotions experienced by the human soul, says Sandra. The duo Sandra, jewellery stylist, and Patrizia, textile stylist love to use new and exclusive materials such as 24K gold to make their elegant robes and abayas. They hope to touch the heart and soul of the Qatari women through their collection that is a fusion of Goldsmiths art, Murano art and Textile art.

Alida Giordani by Tanya Vannicola, Andrea Bellumore and Marco Barbabella

In Italy, the Qatari market is important for our wedding fashion sector. This is the first time we have designed for Qatar, says Tanya. The brand had designed a collection exclusively for ladies and children. Each dress is handmade and is adorned with swarovski crystals. Andrea added, Apart from wedding dresses, we also create designs for womens shoes and matching accessories (II Giardino dei Principe) and evening dresses, bags and shoes (Gruppo Quattro). We hope to introduce our high quality brand into the Qatari market through this event and reflect the fine texture, design, culture and fashion of Italy through our collections. His inspiration behind those creations is his mother: My mother is an artist and my creativity comes from her.

Atelier Armonie by Alessia Bighi

Armonie in Italian means Harmony, says Alessia who has been creating and customising wedding gowns for the past 14 years. We design one exclusive gown for one bride according to her requirements. We create our dresses using the finest fabrics, particularly silk. The wedding gowns are made using either double taffeta fabric a light silk or mikado fabric the most regal and heaviest silk fabric. Embellishments include swarovski crystals. The brand also publishes an annual pattern-book Marfy that features 250 new patterns. These patterns are sold to manufactures, tailors and distributors worldwide. Alessia loves travelling and exploring various cultures and she finds Qatari culture creative and inspiring. For this particular collection, her inspiration was the butterfly. But the collection is not exclusive for the Middle East. Beauty doesnt have borders, she says.
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