The music suite of Palace Hotel in Sliema vibrates with beaming smiles. It is the second full-day shoot led by London Fashion Week casting director and Top Model UK operations director Geoff Cox.
The photos will be submitted to media houses for use by magazines in the UK and will also supplement the models’ portfolios.
Top Model UK 2010 winner and London Fashion Week model Lizzie Elliott vents her energy on the drum kit in front of her, just before Kaii Couture director Annabelle Spiteri puts a Maltese lace-inspired bracelet, handmade by Rachel Robinson, on her wrist.
Ms Robinson, founder of Prickly Pear Designs, is a trained jewellery designer who set up shop in Gozo three years ago.
Using money awarded for a Malta Crafts Council competition, she designed big catwalk statement pieces and Maltese silver accessories toying with the idea of tradition but injected with a modern twist.
Sue Calì, 18, waits her turn to step under the camera’s gaze.
Although the news that she was chosen for the shoot has not sunk in yet, the experience was “well worth it” for Ms Calì, who has just finished a course in hairdressing and wants to expand her make-up skills.
Danica Buhagiar, 18, says the experience, her first of the sort, started “out of nowhere”.
“I just happened to have read about the model casting in the newspaper and gave it a go. I had always wanted to take part in such a shoot, but never had enough courage.”
Ms Buhagiar believes she can only maintain modelling as a hobby.
Artistic director for 13 years, Mr Cox has been to Malta six times and believes real talent should be allowed to thrive based on people’s ability and not based on whom they know.
“I think if you give everybody an equal opportunity, real talent would bloom in Malta. There is some really good talent on the island and I believe the fashion and modelling industry could prosper in Malta,” he adds.
“There are a lot of positives about Malta but the most disappointing thing is the lack of cohesion and organisation. Malta needs an organised official body which regulates modelling, oversees fashion and brings it all together.
“If I had the right backing from people in Malta, I would love to set up a Maltese fashion organisation that could oversee the fashion and modelling industry here and give it an international perspective. Malta is not just full of talent, it is full of wasted talent, and that’s such a shame.”
Mr Cox says exposing undiscovered talent is extremely satisfying. The most rewarding thing is finding undiscovered talent and help realise its potential.
For this shoot, together with Ms Elliott and make-up artist Kate Blackmore, Mr Cox took on three Maltese models, two Maltese designers, and a Maltese photographer, David Mansfield.
The team shot in narrow streets in Victoria, the Citadel, the blue hole in Dwejra, and at the Capua Palace.
“Some people come to Malta to shoot or film, bringing in the talent from abroad. For me, that’s a travesty,” Mr Cox says.
Kaii Couture are the sole clothing designers of the 13 pieces used for the shoot. Ms Spiteri says the outfits are versatile, young, fresh and very strong.
A 15-year-old Ms Elliott made her London Fashion Week debut in 2010 and won the Top Model UK title in March of that year. Ms Elliott has worked for over 25 different designers and is now shortlisted for New York. It is her first visit to Malta and she hopes she will have the chance to return very soon.
As for Mr Cox, he plans on returning after the summer to meet people for next year’s shows.
“I’m always on the lookout for new talent that can potentially be shown in London.”