“TALENTS AWARD 2015” to Nicolas Martin Garcia of Accademia di Costume e di Moda: AltaRoma Haute Couture Fashion Week 2015

Ten final year graduates of Accademia di Costume e di Moda, Rome, presented their collections at the ongoing Alta Roma Haute Couture Fashion Week 2015. The prestigious AltaRoma Fashion Week is an excellent platform for emerging talents to showcase their work alongside the renowned designers. Nicolas Martin Garcia, was adjudged the winner of this year’s Talents Award 2015 for his collection titled “Lolito”. The playful collection is a mix of genres and ages. Androgyny has emerged as a big menswear trend, especially at times when gender gap has considerably narrowed down. Surpassing the concept of androgyny, Nicholas entered a world in which man consciously steals colours and cuts from the female wardrobe. The collection celebrates the essence of a man who is elegant even with garments that seemingly don’t belong to him. Coats with fur collars, vests and V-Necks, high-waist trousers, Baby doll dresses and pleated skirts, elements of typical 50s American childhood, lend their form for this wonderful collection.

The Special Accessories Prize was given to Silvia Stefanucci for her collection Plastic N°5. For her collection Silvia offered bags and accessories which were designed to provide greater potential for “Relocation” with countless pockets that allows one to wear what they want; modular pockets leaning on the side of the tall boots with skin guards ensured maximum protection. And, the essence of the Polly-functionality collection emerges particularly also in the materials; combination of fine luxury leather like crocodile, snake in contrast with garbage bags that become the fabric.

The other emerging talents who presented their collections were Lucrezia Abatzoglu , Andrea Alfidi , Federico Bucari , Domizia Deiana , Margherita Feliciangeli , Federica Leaf, Debora Fossaceca and Thomas Fux.

Accedemia’s Alumnus Marco Mastroianni was awarded with the Irene Brin Award, which has now reached its 46th edition, by Giovanna Gentile Ferragamo. After completing his studies at the Accademia, Marco began his professional career first at the Product Department of Dolce & Gabbana in Itierre SPA, then with Romeo Gigli and 11 years in Prada and finally, in 2001, he entered Louis Vuitton where he is in charge of materials creation (Responsable Création Matières).

The jury members were the finest from the industry and they meticulously evaluated the creations by the new designers, to choose the winners. The members were : Silvia Venturini Fendi (President, Altaroma), and in alphabetic order, Giampiero Arcese (Design Coordinator Armani Collezioni Donna) Livia Carimini (Assistante Haute Couture, Maison Valentino), Davide Dallomo (Fouder and President, Lagente Milano), Marco Falcioni (Head of Designer Diesel Male), Deanna Ferretti (Modateca Deanna), Maurizio Galante (Designer Couturier), Giovanna Gentile Ferragamo (Vice President, Salvatore Ferragamo), Simonetta Gianfelici (Fashion consultant and Talent scout), Stella Jean (Fashion Designer), Laura Lusuardi (Fashion Coordinator, Max Mara), Raffaello Napoleone (CEO, Pitti Immagine).

Each of the 10 fashion students conducted an individual research, yet, at the same time, a contamination of genres emerges from this year’s collections in line with the mood of the current generation. Defined by cultural and creative curiosity, it constantly tries to legitimize restrictions of segments and regulations to propose innovation within the fashion and social systems.