A feast of patterns and soft summer colours inspired by the traditional Maltese festa went on show at the Charles & Ron spring/summer 2014 collection at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Malta this week.

Designers Ron Van Maarschalkerweerd and Charles Borg used elaborate design patterns displayed on the drapes seen during village feasts, known as pavaljuni and bandalori, as inspiration.

The beautiful, printed silk fabrics were then draped to fit a modern woman and lace flowers cut into patterns and applied to organdie dresses and skirts were also clearly inspired by the baroque festa decorations.

Similar patterns also return as intricate, laser-cut designs on several gold pieces in the colourful Feast Patterns collection, based on nougat colours with gold and broken white.

Fashion stylist Caroline Paris wrote on her blog: “Over the years, it always becomes more and more apparent that Charles and Ron love contrasts and to complement the bright hues were some beautiful pastel fabrics.”

The designers also launched their first leather bag collection at the show.

The event, sponsored by Estetika the cosmetic clinic, took place in the Sacra Infermeria Hall at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

Charles & Ron will show part of this collection again at the Vodafone Malta Fashion Awards tomorrow and also for French guests during a private fashion show later this month.

They will then take the collection to Sibiu, Romania, where they will participate at the Feeric Fashion Days in June.