The seats of the Lewis Farrugia Courtyard filled up quickly and eager guests crowded outside the doors of the Chamber of Commerce building, waiting eagerly to get in. The open structure was filled from top to bottom, balconies packed with dapper attendants, dressed in their trendiest apparel. Beautiful ladies cheerfully passed around mini Haagen Dazs ice creams for all to enjoy as they waited for the show to begin. 

“Exotic Jungle,” a collection of inventive gowns and suits presented by designer, Sai Suman, brought our imaginative minds to life. Referencing the rainforest of Australia, her designs portrayed bright greens and reds, as well as deep greens and purples, to imitate the flora and fauna of these raw, exotic destinations. Surprising combinations of fabric and intriguing structural elements made this line unique. Combinations of sheer fabrics with heavier winter fabrics were unexpected. We saw bridal satins, leathers, velvets, raw silks, and sheers. Animal prints on fabric in bright colors as well as darker colors kept us guessing as each model left the runway. Sai’s adventurous use of materials loaned to the funky attitude of these out-of-the-box creations.

Male models wore caged headpieces around their faces and female models carried feathers, vines and flowers on their bodies, growing out in all directions from their garments. Sequins and flower appliqués carried through this collection, a common trend in Malta Fashion Week thus far. Beginning the show with a short skeletal hooped shirt covered in vines and flowers, and ending with a long silky floor-length gown, decorated in softer flowers, we viewed a transition from raw to delicate; a captivating start to the evening.

Julia Boikova presented her line, “Ropes and Dots,” an athletic approach to a ready-to-wear collection. Inspired and developed from a photograph of a single piece of rope, brought with her from India, the concept flowed fluently throughout the entire presentation. Directors, camera crew, and the eclectic crowd of attendants all danced eagerly in their places as the house music pumped excitement through the speakers. Smiles lit up the courtyard as the first model came around the corner.

With greens and blues, pinks and teals, and blacks and whites, this collection gave us several sporty looks with significantly versatile pieces. Certain looks showed a combination of different prints, lending to the versatility of the line. We saw high hemlines and crop tops as well as long capes; all exhibiting the alluring printed fabric from which the collection’s name came from.

The much-anticipated Parascandalo Marco show tied the evening to a close with his delightful mix of lightweight fabrics and minimalist aesthetic. His collection, “In The Sky,” featured numerous fabric choices with functional appeal, many displaying symmetrical tattoo-like graphics of birds. A large source of his inspiration was spawned from current political and environmental concerns. Sheer cotton tops hung loosely over soft leather shorts.

Silk tops hung over silk shorts. Linen pants and a linen short-suit in light green and pale blue plaid gave the collection a slightly more formal side note, while his denim patchwork shorts and vest added a spin on street wear. Lightweight, woven materials created a variety of garments including loose pants, a muscle tee and a long shawl.

Several male models strutted down the runway in tightly fitting white underwear labeled, “Skandlu”, Parascandolo’s signature slogan which means “scandal” in Maltese and is a play on words derived from his surname.

Embellishments included studs, pierced over small patches of denim, which were pierced in clusters over certain garments, creating an edgy take on texture. Accessories included a few simple wrist pieces and functional denim patchwork bags, casually slung over the shoulders of several male models. This intriguing collection- modern, minimalist, with sensitivity and sex appeal- had nothing but positive reactions from his large following.

The massive applause at the end of this show was well deserved as these artists are definitely worth following. Keep that social media updated, as there will be much more to come from these young designers with such youthful ambitions.

Show review written by Sacha Kinser and Pierre Mizzi (Logix Creative team) for MFWA.

Official Makeup Artist: Elaine Galea

Sai Suman
Hair by: Deandra Sultana and her team at Deandras Hairdressing, Hamrun
Makeup by: Clarabelle Abela and Lorna Cassar Mallia
Assistant Makeup Artists: Francesca Attard and Emily Tabone

Julia Boikova
Hair by: Vanusia Vella @ Jiav Glamazon Hair Salon
Assisted by: Cassandra Vella, Kirsten Borg and Maria Vella
Makeup by: Krista Paris and Honorine Wada
Assistant Makeup Artist: Priscilla Chalker (Cremona) and Zoe Muscat

Marco Parascandalo
Hair by: Maria Bonavia
Assisted by: Claire Vassallo @ Hair O’ Hair Rabat
Makeup by: Talitha Dimech, Chantelle Cassar and Henry Galea
Assistant Makeup Artists: Cheryl Zammit and Ludmilla Schembri

Be sure to check out reviews from our fashion bloggers:

“It was a full house tonight at the beautiful Chamber of Commerce in Valletta, Malta – incredible turnout and great atmosphere.” -Caroline’s Fashion Styling

“‘In the Sky’ gave off a breath of fresh air and a cleaner look, white being the dominant shade. From mesh t-shirts to patchwork denim, I could easily let you know that I want almost everything out of this collection.” -Splashes of Looks

“Julia Boikova‘s ‘Ropes & Dots’ provided a capsule collection which could easily be thrown on and take one from day to night with a simple change of shoes and accessories.” -Confessions of a Former Size 6

“All of them brought something new and different to the table, and though not everyone will agree on personal favourites and styles, it is fair to say that it is refreshing that creatives push the boundaries. After all, if one is afraid to do so, then one cannot be truly creative.” -Style in Transit

“It can be said that Sai Suman has really gone that extra mile with her collection – the love relationship between texture and colour in her garments is spectacular.” -Svetlana sp

“I think this was one of the most anticipated events with good reason.” -D-Fined

The event was also featured on The Chamber of Commerce News Portal.