Starting a career in fashion might have gotten easier in the past two years with the emergence of an increasingly vital fashion infrastructure in Cairo. Cairo now hosts several educational entities and specialised platforms that support emerging designers.
However despite the increasing support, a designer’s first runway show is one of the things that will always remain intense. JW Marriott Hotel Cairo hosted a ceremony in celebration of the Italian Fashion Academy’s new batch of students.
The event showcased the works of several promising talents that are just starting to find their way around couture. “The 36 students showcasing today are divided between graduates, who were asked to present a full collection, and undergraduates that only created single outfits,” member of the teaching board Bassant Sherif said.
According to Sherif, any student can apply to be part of the annual show; nonetheless, the teaching board reviews the students’ sketches before agreeing on the students that are to participate. In 2015, the runway was dotted with diverse hues of pop-art, the daring silhouettes of hippies, and the elegance of ballerinas.
“The students had the opportunity to create their own ideas and mood boards and yet we tried to control the overall concept in order to reach a cohesive vision,” Sherif said.
Despite the students’ recent entrance into the business, the showcased collections included cocktail, evening, and wedding dresses that manifested intricate embroidery and a high attention to detail.
“I focused on the ballerina theme. My silhouettes include lots of ruffles while my colour pallet is mainly pastel. However, my main aim was to reinterpret the classic princess concept in a very trendy fashion,” diploma student Shaimaa Hussien said.
The show is proof of the academy’s ability to solidify talents and equip fresh designers to launch their careers.
“I studied everything fashion-related at the academy; design, pattern making, draping, etc.,” Hussien said. “I joined the academy a year ago. Back then, I did not know how to do anything. I learned everything there.”
The event is part of the JW Marriott’s activities for The Charms JW Ladies Society, which is an exclusive club that offers exciting ideas for their members’ lifestyles.
