End: 30 Oct 2011
Location: The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore
Haute Couture Week announced at the inaugural Women's Fashion Week 2011 Singapore
Singapore, 8 September 2011 – Following the immense success of Men’s Fashion Week 2011 (MFW 2011) Singapore, held in March/April this year, is the inaugural Women’s Fashion Week 2011 (WFW 2011) Singapore to be held at the Expo and Exhibition Centre, Marina Bay Sands once again, thanks to the event’s Title Sponsor, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
Organised by SENATUS and Fide Multimedia, WFW 2011 Singapore will present a season of exclusive shows which will showcase the Best of Haute Couture from 26th to 30th October.
Kien M Lee, WFW 2011 Singapore’s Director and Founder of SENATUS says, "It is with great honour that we present the best of Haute Couture from Paris, and to have Grand Couturiers like Gustavo Lins and Stéphane Rolland join us today as we unveil what is set to be a celebration of artistry at its highest levels.
When you see an haute couture outfit up close, or even touch the fabric, you can start to truly appreciate the genius in construction -- No where else but in Haute Couture can you demonstrate technique in creating what is both complicated and simple. Opulent yet understated. Transform the wearer but also accentuate her best qualities.
Be on the forefront of fashion trends yet stay relevant years down the line. Be able to seduce without dressing seductively...
Haute Couture achieves all of that and more.
And when you take the discussion to that level, you start to realize that Haute Couture transcends fashion, and becomes an art form, wearable art in fact. Art that can be appreciated by the connoisseur but also appeals immediately to everyone.
And how do you say to someone that you're showcasing “greatness”? You can't, and we are indeed humbled in the presence of greatness.
All we can ask is for you to join us in this experience of a lifetime at Women's Fashion Week.
Come with us and see these remarkable masterpieces for yourself up-close and in-person. Accompany us into the rarified world of Haute Couture, in which we pay homage to fashion at its penultimate level, yet demystify it so that everyone can understand and truly appreciate it fully.
Didier Grumbach, President of the Fédération française de la Couture, du Prêt à Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode says, “Fashion is the most visible and exciting reflection of globalization. It has a unique ability to bring together influences, perspectives and creativity from different cultures and traditions. This global intermingling and fusion of ideas is core to Fashion's ability to remain relevant, inspiring and challenging. Such ‘Metissage’ is the future.
Despite what may seem like a world undergoing a period of intense crisis, Haute Couture Week - Singapore, which is being organized by Women’s Fashion Week 2011 Singapore, is a clear sign of optimism. It underscores Fashion’s unique quality in reaching out across the globe and we are therefore extremely delighted to have engaged those shared passion for creativity, beauty and excellence with Women's Fashion Week 2011 Singapore."
Mark Juliano, Marina Bay Sands’ Senior Vice President of Marketing, said, “The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands has once again proven itself to be the jewel in the crown of the global retail scene. Continuing the success of the MFW 2011 Singapore early this March, we are even prouder this time to present the inaugural WFW 2011 Singapore. With The Shoppes’ unprecedented collection of the most renowned and new to market luxury brands, we believe we will garner an even wider international significance as the world's leading shopping destination".
Gustavo Lins is an official member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture 2011 who has apprenticed with the likes of John Galliano, Lecoanet Hemant and Jean-Paul Gaultier Couture. The 50-year-old studied to be an architect in his native Brazil but swapped his rulers and blueprints for needles and drapery instead, a decision that has seen many good returns and success. Known for the exquisite drapé of his dresses, clues to his previous profession are seen in the slim, straight-shouldered silhouette of his womenswear.
Stéphane Rolland, a designer whose genius was recognised at the young age of 20, was hired right out of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne where he studied fashion to work on Balenciaga’s menswear collection. He was later promoted to Creative Director within a year of his employ. Now one of the few admitted to the very small circle of the eleven houses of ‘Haute Couture’, with a couture house under his own name, the designer is known for his statement ensembles as well as his modern and original interpretation of couture with a clientele dossier that ranges from royalty to celebrities like Beyoncé, Cheryl Cole and Rihanna.
Daniel Boey, Creative Director of WFW2011 Singapore and internationally-acclaimed runway show producer, concurs, “Couture is the purest echelon of fashion. The couture shows are on a completely different level from the ready-to-wear shows. I am really excited to be able to work with each individual creative haute couturier to conceptualise and produce a stunning tableau of fashion theatre.”
In addition to Gustavo Lins and Stéphane Rolland’s participation at WFW 2011 Singapore, up to six other Couturiers are also expected to join the line-up during the five-day fashion event. More details will be announced in early October.
The inaugural WFW 2011 Singapore is supported by the French Embassy and endorsed by Encore!.
“Since Singapore is now a hub for fashion, we are pleased that several French haute couturiers have been invited to showcase their talent at a high profile event like The Best of Haute Couture at Women’s Fashion Week 2011 Singapore," says His Excellency Olivier Caron, Ambassador of France to Singapore.
“Encore - The European Season in Singapore - is delighted to support Women's Fashion Week and in particular the bringing from Paris to Singapore a number of exceptional 'Grand Couturiers'. In doing so, it reflects Singapore and Asia's tremendous interest in French fashion, culture and tradition and the growing interest that Europe has in reaching out to the vibrant and exciting region of Asia and especially Singapore”, says Laurence Harel, Executive Director, The European Season in Singapore.
WFW2011 Singapore will also play host to other Asian as well as Singaporean designers to showcase their couture collections in ‘WFW2011 Singapore presents: Asian Couture Showcase’ on the 26th of October. This event will be an invaluable platform especially for Asian and Singaporean designers to showcase and gain wider exposure for their collection beyond their local shores.
The WFW Season will include two other exciting programs:
‘WFW2011 Singapore Presents Prêt-à-Porter’ held from the 21st to 23rd October will showcase the latest collection of select fashion brands, all of which can be found at the world-class The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. With such an impressive ready-to-wear fashion line-up, fashion mavens can look forward to an interesting and wide variety of outfits that they would be able to add to their wardrobes this season.
From 6th to 31st October, to instil Couture consciousness amongst the public and fashionistas alike, ‘WFW2011 Singapore Presents Haute Couture Exhibition’ located at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands’ Jewellery Lane, will feature dozens of Haute Couture creations, past and current, from various couturiers.
More show information and updates on WFW2011 Singapore can be found on its Facebook Fan page – //facebook.com/wfwasia.
Check out SENATUS coverage of Women's Fashion Week HERE.
Day One - Early Spring
Couturier Maxime Simoens showcased his Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Couture collection at Women's Fashion Week held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. See more photos: //senatus.net/album/view/2546/
Day One - Late Spring
Grand Couturier Gustavo Lins showcased his Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Haute Couture collection at Women's Fashion Week held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The Brazilian-borned designer brought out both his womenswear and menswear haute couture collections on display. See more photos: //senatus.net/album/view/2549/
Day Two - Early Summer
Couturier Eymeric Francois showcased his Spring/Summer 2011/2012 Haute Couture collection at Women's Fashion Week held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. See more photos: //senatus.net/album/view/2552/
Day Two - Late Summer
Grand Couturier Christophe Josse showcased his Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Haute Couture collection at Women's Fashion Week held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. See more photos: //senatus.net/album/view/2553/
Day Three - Early Fall
Couturier Alexis Mabille showcased his Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Haute Couture collection at Women's Fashion Week held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. See more photos: //senatus.net/album/view/2559/
Day Three - Late Fall
Grand Couturiere Anne Valerie Hash showcased the best-of-her Haute Couture collection at Women's Fashion Week held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. See more photos: //senatus.net/album/view/2561/
Day Four - Winter
Grand Couturier Stephane Rolland showcased his Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Haute Couture collection at Women's Fashion Week held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. See more photos: //senatus.net/album/view/2566/
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