USA: Designers get set to show their Spring 2008 fashions in New York

With New York's Spring 2008 fashion week quickly approaching, designers at Ports 1961 and Rachel Roy are putting the finishing touches to their collections, and trend forecasters predict a reincarnation for denim in a range of new shapes and colours. The tents are going up in New York's Bryant Park signalling that the Spring 2008 Fashion Week is just around the corner. While workers are busy getting the venue ready, the woman who makes it all come together, IMG Fashion executive director Fern Mallis, says that after 15 years she's still amazed by the fashion industry's ability to put on dazzling shows. "People here are putting up a Broadway show with no time to even rehearse - put it up, do it and it's over and it all comes together, I mean the hair dressers, the makeup artists, the accessories, the stylists, said Mallis." At Ports 1961, Creative Director Tia Cibani is fitting the girls who will model her Tanzanian inspired designs. Cibani's global approach to fashion has helped re-invigorate the luxury brand in recent seasons. Of this collection, Cibani says, "I just thought it would be really nice to say something about the people and it was more about joyous Africa than the other that is often in the news." Cibani's chosen a palate that consists of rich browns and shimmering earth tones. She hopes her flowing silk designs and clean silhouettes will reflect the strength and dignity of the Tanzanian woman. In this season's collection she uses a layered and textured approach to add depth and elegance to her creations and says she has highly featured accessories, which she likes to call "gadgets." Another important trend that will be on the runway this season: denim, according to Cotton Inc.'s trend forecaster Lauren Deatherage. "It's not just about a cute pair of jeans anymore," she says. Deatherage predicts designers will feature jeans in all shapes and colours. Some designers though aren't looking to fit in with the trends. Designer Rachel Roy says her collection reinvents classic styles, so they are modern, comfortable and sophisticated. Roy launched her own line in 2005, after heading the design team for urban clothing line Rocawear, which is part owned by hip hop celebrities Damon Dash & Jay-Z. The designs in her Spring 2008 collection are inspired by Claude Monet, and are a mix of "edgy and racy," like the loosely draped silk tank paired with a pleated tailored skirt. Most of the clothing is still "a work in progress," she says, but she hopes that next week "people would see it as something they can find for themselves or certain pieces that they'd want to wear, because at the end of the day that's why I'm in fashion. I'm in it for the wearability and for dressing a woman." Mercedes Benz Fashion week kicks off on September 5th, and runs through September 12th.

ITN Source | September 3, 2007

Tags:. .predicts. .luxury. .comfortable. .reflect. .ability