Runway to success for world designers

Showcasing a collection of designers from all over the world, Runway Malta is back in full force for the spring/summer season.

The event, being held today, is a collaboration of fashion, art, design and a launch-pad for new local designers wanting to make it abroad.

Set to a backdrop of traditional Maltese landscape at Montekirsto Estate, Runway Malta is the only full night international fashion event on the island.

For a night, the venue is transformed into a catwalk theatre, exhibition hall, entertainment area and dance floor.

Hourly shows in the giant auditorium will be exhibited, while local labels are displayed, along with installations, competitions and presentations in the entrance hall in between shows.

A very exciting line-up is being presented. The grand master of latex and rubber, high-end designer William Wilde from the UK (the one who designed Rihanna’s S&M Video outfits) will be showing as the big finale at the end of the night.

His collections are not only controversial but have a great sense of rock ’n’ roll and femininity to them as well.

New Zealand designer Turet Knuerfermann (tk store) has been at the top of the industry for years. In both New Zealand and Australia, her name is synonymous with high-end design and luxurious fabrics. She is one of the most successful young designers to ever come out from the Southern Hemisphere.

The third international designer on the bill is young menswear designer, Marius Op t´ Eynde. He is young but already has a host of awards under his belt and has just completed an internship at Alexander McQueen.

The idea of Runway Malta was started by New Zealander Shideh Olafsson when she realised there was something missing on the local fashion scene.

“Sure there are plenty of great fashion events, but none that incorporate international designers over a long period of time and make a major event out of it,” she said.

Ms Olafsson also noticed that while Maltese people are hungry for fashion, they are only really exposed to high street brands and not really independent designers and those making amazing headway abroad. So along with fellow organiser Alison Gauci, they decided to go for such an event.

Runway celebrates future fashion, young fashion, those who may not necessarily have stores in all the right shopping malls but are actually incredibly talented in their field.

The team behind Runway Malta consists of some of the best on the island.

These people have worked abroad on a number of projects and while they are not household names in Malta, they are big supporters of independent designers and new generation fashion.

Ms Olafsson also reserved special praise for the Valletta 2018 (European Capital of Culture) bid team. They helped to put together a new designer’s competition to entice young designers.

The Valletta 2018 and Runway Malta teamed up with another candidate city – Maastricht in the Netherlands – to give the winning Maltese designer an opportunity to show his creations at the inaugural Fashionclash Maastricht Festival, to be held in June.

The event starts at 5 p.m. There will also be a VIP party tomorrow when journalists and selected sponsors will have the opportunity to meet the international models and designers.

More information may be obtained online at: www.runwaymalta.com or by e-mail: runwaymalta@gmail.com