MFWA 2016 | Saz Mifsud presents Pollen's Poetry

Saz Mifsud's latest collection of printed silk scarves is currently on show at Fort St. Angelo and is one of three exhibitions taking place all throughout the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week. The exhibition launched last Sunday but I wanted to visit it again quietly to have a closer look at what Saz has to offer this time round.

Her collection is called Pollen's Poetry and it comprises beautiful pieces of artwork on silk that portray the frality and ephemerality of flowers. The scarves are created through the artist's idiosynchratic combination of her own photographs coupled with digital manipulation. The final designs are then digitally printed onto different types of silk to create truly unique fashion works of art! Check them out below, or better yet, visit the exhibition yourselves while there is still time!

photos by Ivan Borg

photos by Mark Soler

photos by Neil Psaila Photography

All photos belong to the respective photographers

MFWA 2016 | Sam Selby presents The Sirena Collection

Besides the catwalk shows during the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week, there are a total of three exhibitions going on at Fort St. Angelo (one is yet to be launched later today). The first exhibition I want to talk about is The Sirena Collection by Sam Selby which consists of vibrant, ornate jewellery pieces.

Since I couldn't make it to the official launch last Monday, yesterday I made it a point to go to the venue early and snap some pictures of the jewellery articles on display as well as admire them and take notes of which pieces to buy.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sam herself during my visit to the exhibition yesterday and she walked me through the collection, explaining that all pieces are made with sea sediment and mixed with colour to craft beautifully unique, ornate pieces. My favourites have to be the blue and green collections as they really remind me of our beautiful sea and summer. Have a look at some of Sam's creations here but I do encourage you to pay the exhibition a visit yourselves to see the pieces in person.

MFWA 2016 | Intune by Claudia Goagara presents Interlude

The last show for the night presented Claudia Goagara, another new comer at the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week. Claudia's work is intended for the free-spirited independent women for whom she creates elegant cocktail and evening dresses. She is also in the process of establishing a women's business line here in Malta under the name Intune by CG.

The dresses presented during yesterday's show feature exceptional craftsmanship with very detailed embroidering in pastel and blush hues which contrast with the black and gold in other dresses, creating a truly unique collection. The collection is named Interlude and is inspired by Malta's blooming spring and is heavily influenced by Christian Dior and Valentino and each gown is a one-off piece. I am not lying when I say I want every piece from this collection as it is right up my alley - elegance and sophistication at their best!

All images belong to Neil Psaila Photography.

MFWA 2016 | Rosita Silk Sense presents Joie de Vivre

Following the androgynous outfits from Parascandalo, it was time for Rosita Gasiunaite to mesmerize us all with her affordable silk creations. The inspiration behind Rosita's hand-painted designs on pure, white silk is her home country, Lithuania; more precisely, the seasons and the changes in nature that accompany them. The dress designer is now based in Malta and she showcased her Joie de Vivre collection yesterday during the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week.

The aptly named collection features brightly coloured silk garments which offer a sense of originality and wearable art. I can imagine myself wearing one of Rosita's creations for a wedding or special occasion and with affordable prices, there is something for all budgets! The best thing about Rosita's garments? They feature natural pigments and textures such as salt, wax and sugar and each piece is a one-off with patterns never to be repeated! How's that for uniqueness?

Watermarked pictures are property of Neil Psaila Photography.

MFWA 2016 | Parascandalo

Day 4 of the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week was an exciting one indeed - three back-to-back shows that although diverse on different levels, were a feast for all senses, all ages, all genders.

Kicking off the night was Parascandalo by Marco Parascandalo. The local designer is not new to Fashion Week and with his alternative, unique take on street wear, I was really excited for this year's show and what he had in store. Most of Marco's creations are intended towards the male gender but he also keeps us women in mind by adding that androgynous feeling to this numbers, making them easily wearable.

Yesterday's self-named collection, was all black with hints of orange, and the designer's signature slogans on trousers, men's underwear and t-shirts. Daringly sheer garments and that caged leather 'top' are truly stand out pieces, but my absolute favourite piece has got to be that black dress with black and orange fringe detailing. Once again, a big well done to Marco for surpassing our expectations! Bravu!

Watermarked images are property of Neil Psaila Photography.

MFWA 2015 | Ritienne Zammit presents 'L-Omm li tatna ismha!' A/W 2015

Date: Thursday 14th May 2015

Time: 19:30hrs

Location: Grand Master's Palace, Republic Street, Valletta

promo picture courtesy of Ritienne Zammit

'The aim of this collection is to arouse the gratitude of our identity, language and beliefs' - this verse opened Ritienne Zammit's superb fashion show after a short promo video with a modern interpretation of the Maltese National Anthem by world-renowned Maltese DJ duo Tenishia. The same verse was read in Maltese, English and Italian, the three languages involved in the 'Language Question' during the 1920's and 1930's, the two decades around which the collection revolved. The mane of the collection is actually part of our national anthem which translates to 'This Motherland so dear whose name we bear!'

While Italian (at the time the language used by professionals such as doctors, lawyers and the clergy) and English (the language of the foreign rulers at the time) were 'fighting' to be the official language of Malta, Maltese patriots, mostly Manwel Dimech, fought with fervour to elevate Maltese from it's 'working class' and the 'language of the kitchen' status to that of the official language of the Maltese Islands.

Patriots' portraits such as that of the afore mentioned Manwel Dimech, Dun Karm Psaila (our national poet), Dun Mikiel Xerri and Mikiel Anton Vassalli were cleverly incorporated into the designs with a modern twist. 

The colour palette consisted of monochrome black and white featuring excerpts from Mikiel Anton Vassalli's Lexicon (first Maltese dictionary) in the style of 1920's newspapers, salmon, teal and a hint of oxblood, which my friend and fellow blogger Mariel pointed out, that at the time, it was very fashionable to have furniture painted in those colours.

Moreover, the finger-curled hair and the cut-out moustaches added to the vibe the designer was after. The stark white lips, eyeliner and cut-out brows further accentuated the graphic edge to the collection making it more appealing to the public. 

The location for this show, the magnificent Grand Master's Palace couldn't have more adapted, for it was the seat of the first Maltese Self-Government in 1921.

This was definitely a winning collection and one that has a lot of background research. I am looking forward to owning a piece from it asap! Brava Ritienne! Ghamiltna kburin! (Well done Ritienne! You  made us proud!).

Sadly, this was the last show for me this year and I can definitely say that my fashion week closed with a bang! I would like to wish all nominees a big good luck for Saturday's awards and I would like to thank the team behind Fashion Week for scouting interesting locations for all the shows and I would like to show my appreciation for all the hard work put into the most fashionable week of the year :) I look forward to next year! Cheers!

All photos are courtesy of Mark Soler. Check out his website msfotography.net for more :)