The captivating multicultural universe of fashion, under the guidance of Gentiana Dervishi, president of the APS Showteam Association, garnered accolades in the splendid setting of Le Salon des Miroirs. On the 2nd of October, following the success in Milan, Paris marked the triumph of GX Fashion Week, presenting attendees with a “Fashion Spectacle” characterized by eccentricity, elegance, and taste. In the heart of Paris Fashion Week, a city embodying timeless elegance and design, the fashion world witnessed an explosion of creativity and innovation with GX Fashion Week Paris. This exceptional event gifted the Parisian audience an experience that captured the attention and hearts of all, earning numerous accolades for its deliberate celebration of diversity and eclecticism, a true tribute to the universal language. In the city of lights, GX Fashion Week brought together some of the boldest and most visionary minds in the glamorous world from every corner of the globe, creating a captivating mosaic of cultures, styles, and trends that will leave the audience in awe. The focus was on celebrating fashion as a global art form and a means to express individual eccentricity, taste, and sophistication, within the context of creativity and stylistic diversity that takes centre stage. This is the essence of GX Fashion Week Paris: the dissemination of an extraordinary variety of cultural influences that, in this case, converged on the Parisian runway. Providing the backdrop to the triumph of GX Fashion Week Paris were the splendid spaces of the venue “Le Salon des Miroirs,” where an explosion of ideas and inspirations ensured uniqueness and a significant level of choices, a belief staunchly held by Gentiana Dervishi, President of APS Showteam. Assisted by a highly experienced team, she ensured, as in every other occasion linked to Italian fashion, a substantial afternoon intertwined with fashion, where the criteria for selection and evaluation proved highly meticulous and selective, without distinction between emerging or established designers. She is particularly pleased with the outcome: taking the plunge in Paris with the formula that has been successful on the Milan runways for years is a source of great pride for her. As she mentioned in the pre-event, organizing a fashion show, with multiple designers, of such dimensions, requires a lot of commitment involving me and a well-prepared and numerous team, composed of reliable individuals who care, just like myself, about winning outcomes. Today she can confidently say that this commitment and effort are fully rewarded, giving to the team an increasingly international consensus. “However, this is not a point of arrival but a starting point in view of the upcoming February deadlines”, declared Gentiana Dervishi (who wore a splendid creation by Flora Cappucci) an eclectic artistic mind with clear ideas, regarding the technical dynamics that unfold during the day of the runway shows. Numerous designers showcased marvellous creations on the runway: Ludovic Winterstan, Aulona Mecaj, Francisco Rodrìguez, Mokodu Fall, Avina Atelier, and the Istituto Cordella. “One of the distinctive features of this edition was the boldness in exploring uncharted territories of fashion. Beyond sartorial wisdom, I aimed to break new ground on the runways. Designers dared audacious combinations of colours, unusual fabrics, and outfits that defy the normally desirable conventions. Experimentation took centre stage, with every designer striving to push the boundaries of creativity, and the numerous accolades received confirmed that the choices were indeed right,” concludes Gentiana emphasizing, “the awareness regarding environmental issues, where GX Fashion Week Paris directed attention towards advancing sustainability. Many designers presented creations with carefully sourced materials, eco-friendly techniques, and responsible approaches. This commitment to sustainability has shown that fashion can be at the forefront while minimizing damage to our beautiful planet.”
Let’s get to know the designers who showcased their creations on the runway at GX Fashion Week Paris.
Istituto Cordella – Amid confirmations, comebacks, and highly anticipated debuts of world-renowned fashion giants, the Istituto Cordella made its runway debut at GX Fashion Week Paris for the very first time, presenting two collections created by thirteen designers who were trained at the Institute. The first is a selection from the series titled “Elsa,” dedicated to Elsa Schiaparelli, an Italian-born French fashion designer, costume designer, and tailor, who, alongside Coco Chanel, is considered one of the most influential figures in fashion between the two World Wars. The second collection gracing the runway is named “Norma Jean,” inspired by Marilyn Monroe, the real name of the most famous actress, singer, model, and film producer in the history of world cinema. The garments were crafted by: Caprino Chiara, Caretto Denise, Cazzato Alice, Chetta Alice, Duka Bruna, Giaccari Angelica, Giaffreda Elisa, Kurakova Maria, Margiotta Francesca, Pepe Giovanni, Scaramuzzi Paolo, Trubia Federica and Tundo Alessandro. The runway show will be broadcast live on the social channels of the Istituto Cordella.
Faraón – Francisco Rodríguez, a Dominican designer of the Faraón brand, affirmed his significance after participating in GX Fashion Week Milano, also making a notable presence in Paris. His rich portfolio has earned him numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career. In the past, he held significant positions, such as Fashion Design consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and then President of the Association of Chacabana Artisans of the Dominican Republic. He is the President of the Association of Dominican Designers and the Laurenth Industrial Company. Considered a pioneer of the new concept of “chacabana,” the ordinary, the coarse, FARAÒN presented his collections, enchanting the audience.
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Aulona Store – Aulona Mecaj, the designer and founder of the brand, embarked on her journey as a child, passionately drawn to fashion and art. As a child, she loved dressing up and sketching her clothes. As she grew older, she started her own brand in her hometown with a small workshop and a very minimal boutique. But she realized that place was too small for her ideas. After several successes in her country, she arrived with another artistic inspiration at Paris Fashion Week! She brought art and sensuality of clothing to the runways of Paris. Aulona, the designer and brand manager, wants this creation and collection to make noise and be heard like a sound that keeps coming and going.
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Mokodu – practised his art in his home country in the early ’90s as a political cartoonist for the newspaper Afrique Économique and Le Débat. In 1996, he moved to Italy where he continued painting. Mokodu Fall specializes in figurative painting, and his work reflects the people who have contributed to the development of African culture, peace, and urban cultures. His art represents the African continent through its heroes, animals, and atypical landscape. He creates highly colourful scenes where we find these characteristic elements belonging to Africa. Everything he does in the world of fashion is a continuation of his artwork.
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Avina – Passionate about drawing and fashion from an early age, she began imagining dress creations in my childhood. Even as a child, she drew and made clothes to dress my Barbie Dolls. Between London, Paris, Prague, and Novi Sad, she worked in renowned bridal wear houses and learned from particularly talented ones. Her garments are light and delicate with pure and assertive lines, paying great attention to detail. She began learning design in England, sewing in Serbia and the Czech Republic and pattern-making in France. She creates a unique dress for each bride for that exceptional day, to sublimate it and highlight her personality.
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Ludovic Winterstan – a designer who works around high-end ethical ready-to-wear, designed with an integration and sharing spirit. Ludovic Winterstan’s silhouettes evoke strong and warrior-like men and women fighters. His distinct signature is imbued with dark poetry mixed with the elegance of a certain black romanticism that allowed him to showcase at Paris Fashion Week and in various countries, as well as to sign partnerships with the lace makers of Caudrésiens or with the Swarovski group. 2020 the French state acquired many of these pieces as national heritage.
It’s important to emphasize how invaluable the artistic and professional contribution of the make-up artists and hairstylists coordinated by APS Showteam, led by Arta Kola, was. Through their unique experience regarding the ornamental context of the models, they applied the created mood with flair and professional touch. Handling the aforementioned task was a historic and well-established entity in the Parisian fashion scene: the “Accademia Campus” and “AB Pro Make-up Academy.” The event’s official partner concerning models was the “Modeling Agency Paris” by Artur Rocha.
The event showcased exquisite designs and embodied the spirit of innovation and sustainability, heralding a promising future for the fashion industry, exemplifying the power of collaboration, bringing together diverse talents and cultures, and setting a new standard for fashion events worldwide. It was a triumph of elegance on the runways of Paris, leaving a lasting imprint on the fashion world.
GX Fashion Week Paris proved to be more than just a display of garments and style; it was a testament to the evolving narrative of fashion as a universal language that transcends borders and embraces diversity.
Ph: Martina Terranova, Mirko Camassa, Marc Bruno Leclerc, Umberto Fadda.
