RunwayMalta - Malta Goes Fashion Crazy - Part 1 @ the Launch Party

So, I’ve just had a lovely weekend – full of fashion, I got to get dressed up, look at other people all dressed up and watch beautiful models walk down the catwalk in some truly beautiful pieces – brilliant !!

This was RunwayMalta’s (www.runwaymalta.com) first year and it took place on Sunday the 4th September 2011. So first off what is RunwayMalta ? Well the main idea behind this event was to have day-long showcase of fashion and fashion items, slightly emulating a day in a foreign fashion week. From 14:00 – 20:00, every hour, a catwalk show of maximum 15 minutes was presented by a different designer. In between the shows, there was time to relax and mingle and look at some beauty and jewellery exhibitions or get a bite to eat. It was a great experience, if somewhat tiring, seeing all those fashion shows on one day and although the international designers really rocked the place, I have to say there is some great talent in Malta too.

The event kicked off with a VIP launch party on Saturday the 3rd in the evening at the Palace Hotel Sliema. Everyone dressed up in their most fashionable, and came ready to mingle and enjoy their evening.

In the photos below: Kris Micallef the backstage fashion photographer for the Sunday event and Pavli ( wearing a lovely teal dress) the stylist who was responsible for coordinating all the outfits and accessories for all the shows.

Below, check out the beautiful models for the event from So Management

yours truly wearing an Indian Kaftan 🙂

and last but not least – Shideh Olafsson, the brains behind the whole event – check out her fabulous tank top,created by Gori de Palma (one of the event’s designers) – chained to mainstream fashion ? ?!!

So lets talk about the most interesting part – the actual clothes…there were seven catwalk shows in total. The different designers were:

International:
Hasan Hejazi – a British designer who has dressed celebrities like kylie Minogue, likes bright colours and sharp design.
Gori de Palma – a Spanish designer influenced by rock and roll and general non-conventional fashion
Nawie Kuiper and Branko Popovic from Netherlands. – menswear designers, somewhat eccentric, definitely non- conventional.

Maltese:
Charles and Ron – Maltese fast growing designers, have presented some beautiful collections over the past years
Fat Gold streetwear installation – mainly streetwear, t-shirts , jeans…..
Kaii Couture – growing Maltese designer who has just presented her collection at Top Model UK’s Fashion International show
4 x New Generation designers – Celeste, Ewa and Curpina

Throughout the launch evening, each designer presented a teaser outfit from the following day’s shows. In the photo below Celeste’s teaser can be seen, in a conversation I had with her she mentioned her collection originally being inspired by the song ‘Hey Boy, Hey Girl’ and how she has only been doing this for about a year – good on you Celeste 🙂

Below Kaii Couture whose collection was inspired by a Chinese Empress.

And Charles and Ron with model Kristen wearing a beautiful pink and purple dress, look at the puffed sleeve just like of a Disney princess !!

There was also a red carpet, to get your photo taken on – swanky 🙂 In the photo below designer HASAN HEJAZI with the model Amelie modelling his teaser outfit and Shideh and Pavli.