BRAZIL: Fashion Week kicks off in Rio

With the goal of spreading Brazilian fashion throughout the world, the first of two renowned official Brazilian fashion events began Sunday (January 14) in Rio de Janeiro. Children's wear label Lilica Riplica and designer Walter Rodrigues kicked off the catwalk shows, one with unusually cheerful models and the other with an unusual setting. Brazil's winter fashion season began on a lively tone on Sunday (January 14) with the children's brand Lilica Ripilica storming the runway. Backstage, while the very young models received their last touches before the show, some read comic books to pass time. Designer Debora Barros, who has already exhibited in various countries, said Brazilian fashion had gained more identity after it left aside aspects of European culture. "Brazilian fashion has assumed itself more as Brazilian and left aside a bit of the European culture and gained more identity," she said. With a happier look than the usual "blasé" expressions worn by models, the children were enthusiastically received by the public, which let out several sighs during the show. Meanwhile, designer Walter Rodrigues chose an odd setting to present his collection. Amid tall shelves filled with books, at the traditional Royal Portuguese library, his models paraded in futurist outfits. Angela Britto, who claimed herself to be a big fan of the designer, said the catwalk show was very beautiful and romantic. "I found it beautiful, marvellous. I found everything beautiful, romantic, very interesting," she said. Iker Greggorio, who came all the way from Russia to watch Brazil's fashion shows, said Rodrigues could not have made a better choice than the library for his show. "It's shockingly beautiful. I think it's the best choice they could have made with the place, really," he said. Rodrigues travelled to Peru, China and Guatemala to seek inspiration for this new collection. Two months after a Brazilian model died of anorexia, Fashion Rio changed its policies and banned underweight, underage models from its catwalks.

ITN Source | January 19, 2007

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