Homegrown designers Charles & Ron this year wowed audiences at New York Fashion Week with a collection of bold prints inspired by our traditional luzzu. They recount their experience to Anna-Marie Galea.
In the immortal words of Frank Sinatra, who first crooned “if I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere” in his song New York, taking part in New York Fashion Week is seen by many as the zenith of their career, a moment of true arrival.
Consequently, one can only imagine the general excitement surrounding homegrown designers’ Charles and Ron participation and their feelings about the now third New York Fashion Week that they have lent their designs to.
“Showing in New York Fashion Week was always something of a dream,” says Ron, “however, despite the fact that we had been invited numerous times before, we only felt truly ready a couple of years ago. It’s really quite funny, because while this has always been a goal for me, Charles has been really chilled out about the whole thing.”
Although it wasn’t their first visit to the Big Apple, the fact that they were taking part in fashion week gave things a whole new spin: “The first time we took part, it was completely surreal; in fact, we were constantly pinching ourselves. However, when you have to do the fittings with the models and take care of all the last minute things, things, the pressure is really on.”
When you have to do the fittings with the models and take care of all the last minute things, the pressure is really on
So what did they do to prepare themselves? “Well, the whole process of preparing for any fashion week is pretty arduous. Whether we’re going to New York or showing in Malta, we always spend the same amount of time thinking about and shaping our concepts,” Charles says.
This, apparently, involves Ron creating a mood board and some initial sketches from the two designers’ main inspiration. Carlton Agius – creative assistant with Charles & Ron, photographer and also part of the New York Fashion Week team – then manipulates the prints.
“It truly is a process of evolution and with the passing of the years, we have come to accept that doubting is an integral part of that process. If we don’t have downs, we can’t have ups,” Charles continues.
In keeping with Charles and Ron’s Mediterranean aesthetic, this year’s New York offering was a magnificent play on the traditional luzzu.
“We love to visit Marsaxlokk every Sunday to buy fresh fish,” says Charles. “This collection was born out of our fascination with the small fishing village and the beautiful, colour-blocked boats that bring in the fish and then are left to berth in the sunny cove. For these past years, we have made it a priority to take things which Maltese people take for granted and turn them into something else – we truly do not realise how blessed we are to be surrounded by such beauty. The feedback we get about our pieces from foreigners continues to show us that we have a lot to be thankful for.”
In keeping with their love affair with the Med, the 12 pieces shown are a beautiful flurry of white, blues and yellows which cannot but remind one of the sun, sky and sea.
“In this collection, we really wanted to bring out what we’re about and so we made sure to use graphic, bold prints on the ultra-flattering, 1950s silhouette which we love so much.”
The Charles and Ron woman, he adds, is a happy and vibrant woman who loves to laugh and socialize.
“We really wanted people seeing the collection for the first time to instantly get this image and feel what it means to be Mediterranean, and most of all, Maltese.”
Indeed, if there’s an element which Charles and Ron love more than anything else at New York Fashion Week, it’s the energy which they get from the people around them.
“One of the best things about New York Fashion Week is that everyone, from the models, to the make-up artists, to the photographers, is really enthusiastic and professional about what they do.
Whether we’re going to New York or showing in Malta, we always spend the same amount of time shaping our concepts
“I love the way everyone has a really positive attitude which makes them take a genuine interest in what we do. That feeling is truly infectious and makes the crazy, hectic ride even more worth it.”
This year, the two designers also enjoyed a very special personal moment as they got to sit front row and watch Andre Leon Talley give an informal interview to Manolo Blahnik.
It is a fact truly not lost on anyone who meets the dynamic duo that, despite the fact they’ve been designing for many years now, their passion for life and the promotion of the Maltese aesthetic has not waned. If anything, it has gotten stronger.
“We are extremely proud of our heritage. Although, in the past our Maltese market may not have always understood or appreciated what we were trying to convey, you can see the change in mentality and the fact that people are starting to understand that there’s more to what they see. People are no longer looking outside our beautiful island for inspiration. Instead, they’re looking in.