designers
Duro Olowu
Born in Lagos Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and a
Jamaican mother, Duro Olowu was raised between Nigeria and England in an
environment that embraced international culture, art, fashion and music.
From an early age, his enthusiasm for fashion was
inspired by the unexpected mix of fabrics, textures and draping techniques of
the clothing worn by the women that surrounded him. He was encouraged at an
early age to sketch his ideas and to be interested in things handcrafted with
care and beauty.
Like his father before him, Olowu studied law in
England and later returned to Nigeria. He soon gave up a legal career and moved
back London to pursue his true vocation as a self taught fashion designer,
first designing womenswear collections for the now defunct London based label
Olowu Golding.
In October 2004, Olowu launched his first eponymous
womenswear label with a capsule collection for spring/summer. A sophisticated
and offbeat use of clashing prints and textures, that collection launched his
career becoming a major hit with fashion editors and buyers worldwide and an
international sellout in its selected stockists.
It included the now famous “Duro dress”. With its
empire waist and billowing sleeves in vibrant mixed silk prints the dress
caused a sensation and was hailed by American, British, Italian and other
International Vogues and as the dress of the year.
Only 10 months later, he won the prestigious “New
Designer of the Year” award at the British Fashion Awards 2005. The only
designer to have ever done so without a catwalk show.
Now in his 7th season at London fashion week , his collections which now include knitwear and accessories, continue to receive enthusiastic reviews by the international press. With a new boutique just opened in London’s Masons Yard, off Duke Street St James, Olowu’s maverick use of fabrics and prints, sharp tailoring and intricate draping techniques reflect his interpretation of international chic and joie de vivre, appealing to women who seek modern luxury for urban and resort wear.
Allison paladino
Principal of Palm Beach-based firm, Allison
Paladino Interior Design, internationally acclaimed designer Allison Paladino
is known for creating exquisite residential interiors that exude a soft, modern
elegance.
She is also the creative force behind Allison
Paladino Collections, her exclusive lines of licensed, luxury home furnishings
designs. Inspired by her love of modernism, French Deco and the work of George
Nakashima, the collections are designed by Allison and produced and distributed
by leading high-end manufacturers, including furniture maker E.J. Victor,
Rosembaum Fine Art and New River Artisans.
Well-recognized for excellence in residential and
commercial interiors, as well as her provocative product designs, Allison’s
work is regularly featured on the pages of regional, national and international
design publications, including House Beautiful, Grandeur Magazine, House
Trends, Florida Design, Palm Beach Illustrated and Design-et-al. She has been
honored with multiple inclusions in Andrew Martin’s Interior Design Review,
which annually profiles the world’s leading designers, and was named “One of
America’s Top 25 Young Designers,” by House Beautiful.
Hailed as one of the freshest faces on the design
scene today, Allison was also featured on the pages of the New Yorker and
Forbes as part of a BlackBerry ad campaign profiling dynamic, up-and-coming
personalities making a mark in their professions.
Prior to establishing her eponymous design firm in
1997, Allison spent four years under the tutelage of renowned designer Thomas
Pheasant, where she was a key member of the interior design team. She holds a
B.A. in Interior Design, is a professional member of ASID and NCIDQ, and is a
licensed Interior Designer by the State of Florida.
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