Born on 8 October 1967 in Venezuela, Hannibal Laguna grew up watching the work of his parents at «Donetta Venezolana», one of the most renowned children’s fashion factories in the 80s. In 1982, he moved to Europe where he studied tailoring in Milan and chose fashion creation as his means of professional expression.
The Hannibal Laguna Brides international line for Pronovias; Hannibal Laguna Bijoux; the Communion Fashion collection for Marla Española; Hannibal Laguna Grooms for Protocolo; the Hannibal Laguna shoe and accessory collection, and the «Marie Claire 100 years» collection are perfect examples of this coexistence.
Since 1997 to the present day, he has shown his couture bridal collections at Pasarela Gaudí Novias in Barcelona. In 1998, he began his relationship with Cibeles, a collaboration which, after several years at the BCN Fashion Week, he has renewed once again with the showing of his «Too Cherry» collection at ratified with One & Only at Pasarela Cibeles (September 2007).
He has collaborated in national and international fashion projects for major firms such as L’Oreal and Palmolive and his interesting involvement in the following exhibitions is noteworthy: «Art and fashion» (Valencia, Valmontone, La Havana and Saint Petersburg); «Passion. Spanish design» (Madrid, Salamanca, Chicago and Berlin); «Behind the looking glass. Spanish fashion» (Madrid); «31 twists to a bag» (Madrid and Valencia) and «Barbie fashion icon»’ (Madrid).
GABRIELE STREHLE
The work of Gabriele Strehle reflects a profound encounter with life as she perceives it. She is passionately devoted to quality both in terms of material and idea.
I always think the word philosophy is a bit too highbrow for fashion, but the expression lifestyle is simply too shallow. I prefer to think of it as an attitude to life,” says Gabriele Strehle.
“The aim isn’t for someone to dress in our products from top to toe. Quite the opposite: the self-confident women who are our typical customers would never dream of confusing brand worship with style,” she explains.
“But the diversity of our products establishes a kind of panorama: people feel what we feel and recognize what we are aiming for, without the need for us to announce our intentions,” Strehle explained.
For Gabriele Strehle, whose passion applies not only to uncompromising quality of materials and fabrics, but also to the quality of ideas has found perfect place between high fashion and just wearing clothes. And thus, her collections reveal sensuousness and intelligence, tinged with a longing for profundity, radiating a desire for depth.
Within the clamorous and the eccentric world of fashion, Gabrielle Strehle is one of the soft and subtle voices. Her work presents not only an outward appearance but above all, its own background as well.
Even if fashion is the focus of her life, Gabriele Strehle does not expect our busy and complex lifestyles to be centered on fashion only. To Gabriele Strehle, the Strenesse woman has responsibilities and has well-defined priorities.
Hence, Gabriele Strehle does not assume nor expect the Strenesse woman to dress herself with Strenesse items from head to toe. With Gabriele Strehle’s innate understanding of people with multi-faceted life to whom her aesthetics appeal, brand worship does not exist or is allowed.
MARIA ESCOTE
In the year 2001, Maria Escote began her advanced vocational training in Plastic Arts and Design. At the same time, she did a Master’s degree in Colour Consultancy and worked in the family business, taking charge of the made-to-measure tailoring in its two boutiques.In 2005,
When she had finished everything, she decided to go to London where she did a Fashion Drawing course at Saint Martin’s. On returning from London, she created her own brand name setting up a studio in Barcelona and continuing to make made-to-measure clothing.
January 2007 – First collection Modafad fashion show.
September 2007 – Second collection Ego Cibeles.
February 2008 – Third collection Ego Cibeles.
September 2008 – Fourth collection Ego Cibeles.
February 2009 – Fifth collection Ego Cibeles.
September 2009 – Sixth collection Off Cibeles
MARK BOUWER
DALLAS, Aug 15, 2008 / FW/ — Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Marc Bouwer immigrated to the U.S. armed with a portfolio that won him South Africa Vogue Young Designer Award. It seemed that S.A. Vogue and fashion legend Halston had the same opinion about Marc.
Working under Halston, Marc refined his skills – from tailoring to cutting and draping. Eventually becoming a master draper, Marc’s draping technique would eventually make him the darling of the fashion set and give rise to one of his signature looks, ‘athletic glamour.’
Launching his own line during the 1990s, Marc Bouwer’s star continue to rise as his creations graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, Oprah, Cosmopolitan, Instyle, Vanity Fair, Glamour and Vibe Magazine among others.
Bouwer was also one of the first adopters of ‘animal free’ collection. In 2002, made fashion history when he presented a collection made completely free of animal products. PETA sponsored the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week show. A PETA Humanitarian Award soon followed.
JULIEN FOURNIE
Julien Fournié is a French fashion designer and CEO of his own eponymous haute couture company founded in the summer of 2009. Previously, he was the last Creative Director of the Paris-based haute couture fashion house Torrente. In 2008, he was named Creative Director for womenswear, menswear and accessories at Ramosport
Julien has a Castilian mother and a French father. One set of grandparents were tanners. His other grandmother was a lingerie seamstress and corset maker[2]. From the age of three Julien’s favourite toy was the crayon, his favourite pastime: drawing.
Fournié initially decided to study medicine and took a degree in Biology. After two years he changed career to study fashion, continuing his studies at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne graduating in 2000[2]. On his graduation day, Paris Fashion 2000 awarded him with the Moet & Chandon Prize for best accessories[1]. During those three years of study and the apprenticeship, he worked at fashion houses to develop his skills. After experience at Nina Ricci, he moved to Christian Dior, where he worked on accessories with Jean Mouclier, then at Givenchy haute couture.
He was starting to work at Céline when Jean-Paul Gaultier hired him as an assistant designer in haute couture[2]. He was entrusted with researching materials and designing embroidery trims for the Autumn/Winter 2001/2002 collection. He also got to work on the stage costumes for a Madonna tour. At the end of 2001, he joined the Claude Montana studio as a stylist in ready-to-wear and accessories. There, he developed collections of bags, scarves, luggage and jewelry.
In late Summer 2003, at the age of 28, he was recruited by Torrente as Style Director for their ready-to-wear collections. In early September, before his first show for the Torrente had even taken place, the management committee voted to appoint him creative director. He has since taken over the duties of Madame Rose Torrente-Mett. After advising several ready-to-wear brands in Asia, and particularly in South Korea, as well as in the fields of accessories in France (Charles Jourdan), he was appointed in early 2008 Creative Director at another French house, Ramosport, the Parisian brand, specializing in "casual chic" for womenswear and menswear. When Ramosport was bought as a company by the Groupe Georges Rech in September 2008, Julien Fournié decided it was time to create his own brand, bearing his own name[1][2].
ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER
Passionate and determined, Alexandre Vauthier joined Thierry Mugler studio right after his fashion studies. To Vauthier, Mugler represents the absolute master of garment architecture. Spending 4 years at Thierry Mugler, Vauthier was introduced and then became part of the lofty world of haute couture.
After Thierry Mugler, Alexandre Vauthier joined Jean Paul Gaultier as Head Designer of the still nascent couture collection. This rich 8 years of experience strengthened Vauthier’s desire to realize his own fashion house.
