Italian textile manufacturer Alcantara held a collaborative event with fashion magazine Vogue Italia, "Alcantara New Wave," on September 17th, the first day of Milan Fashion Week.
This event was part of Vogue Italia's "WHO IS ON NEXT?" program, which aims to discover talented young designers from around the world. For this event, Alcantara selected five designers who have previously been featured in the program. They were asked to present a mini-collection for Spring/Summer 2015 using Alcantara, the company's signature covering material.
In response, each designer presented unique outfits, accessories, and other creations, showcasing creations that made the most of the aesthetic properties of Alcantara. The five designers who participated in the event were: After 15 years as a designer for brands such as Donna Karan and Calvin Klein, Paul Andrew moved to New York and is currently working on his own brand. At last year's "WHO IS ON NEXT?" fashion show, he won the accessories award for his Alcantara shoes. This year, he used bright yellow and soft pink materials, adding touches of metal. For pumps, he added a denim-like pattern and adorned it with a white snake. The luxurious leather and the casual yet chic impression of printed denim are beautifully balanced. Arthur Arbesser is a young designer currently active in Italy. He made his debut at the Milan Collection in 2013. This collection uses a material made of Alcantara netting layered with 3D mesh, as well as striped Alcantara. The former is thick yet transparent due to the perforations, making it ideal for creating sharp-cut coats and slacks. The latter features a thin layer of glossy, transparent stripes layered over colored stripes, giving the overall piece a soft, almost liquid-like texture.
Au Jour le Jour is a collaboration between Mirko Fontana and Diego Marquez. Their designs have already earned acclaim in the industry, including high praise from Giorgio Armani. For their collection, they chose brightly colored Alcantara, presenting works that focus on color variations and matching.
Paula Cademartori studied industrial design in Brazil before moving to Italy. She was a finalist in the 2011 "WHO IS ON NEXT?" competition. Her submitted works incorporate elements from her native Brazil, exploring unusual combinations with bird feathers and other elements. Perforated Alcantara is layered with other materials, such as leather, to create a variety of colors and three-dimensional effects.
Stella Jean, known as the "Queen of Wax and Stripes," launched her first collection in 2012, which was a huge success. The collection fully demonstrates her signature blend of European academic rigor and the unrestrained spirit of Creole culture, which has its roots in Africa. Using five different types of Alcantara, she presents pieces that make the most of the material's characteristics while still expressing a strong individuality.
