OFS

This Sunday, OFS London Collections will be at Devonshire Square and Emanuela Giannelli will be there showcasing her new collection, ReNEWssance, at 7pm. I was able to interview her and she had a lot of great things to say about her collection:

1. What was the inspiration behind this collection?

My new capsule collection, ReNEWssance, has an historical type of
inspiration, as the name may suggest. Stylistic elements of the early
Renaissance have been fused together, highlighting key aspects such as colour,
silhouette and volume. Everything has been reinterpreted with a modern
approach; my intent was to create a contemporary collection, an ensemble of
sophisticated and stylish pieces, suggesting atmospheres and echoes of a
magnificent and charming past. 

2. Who’s the target audience for this
collection?

When I work on my creations I am presumptuous enough to think that they
could appeal to a quite wide range of women: everyone could find a piece that
they like, no matter if they’re in their 20s or in their 50s. The aim of my
designs is to allow every woman to feel beautiful and confident in what she’s
wearing, trying to generalise, I could say that The EmanuelaGiannelliDesign
woman is a strong and modern one, willing to be always chic, stylish and
unique, not afraid to show also her ‘playful’ side, being seductive and
flirtatious.

3. What is your brand ethos?

As I was just saying, I hope with my creations to enable women to express
their individuality: everyone wants their clothes to represent them in the best
possible way, and that is the goal that I’m trying to achieve with my brand. In
particular, I would say that my brand empowers the customer: they are free to
get the clothes and seen during a show if they like, but also they can ask to
customise the designs, making them as personal and unique as they need to feel
beautiful and confident. All my designs are entirely customisable and it can
become exclusive and unrepeatable, as it is realised and altered according to
the customer wishes.

4. Why have you chosen Oxford Fashion Studio to showcase your amazing
designs?

Oxford fashion studio has the great merit to allow young and emerging
designers to have their visibility. As we all know, fashion is a highly
competitive industry, and it’s crucial for a designer to get their creations
out there. Since I’ve started my brand I found it quite difficult to find a
high profile space/occasion to show my designs, but eventually I got to meet
Tiffany, OFS creative director, and talking to her made me realise that they
could have been the best thing happening to my career so far. Showcasing my
creations during London Fashion Week was just a dream until not long ago, and
now I’m here thanks to them.

5. What made you into the designer that you are today?

Well, I’m in my early 30s, and having worked in the fashion industry for
quite a while certainly gave me a realistic view of the business: there is not
just the glamour, but also hard work, long hours and a lot of stress. I guess
that having to deal with these kind of aspects and situations, before funding
my own brand, gave me a solid base to build my career. Also I’ve always been a
very curious person, and fashion was surely the topic I’ve always been more
interested and passionate about, both from a creative and sociological point of
view, so I’ve always researched and studied a lot, and I try to transfer the
knowledge I’ve accumulated into my designs.

6. What other designers do you aspire to be as successful as?

That’s a tough question… there are many designers that I admire, but I could
only hope to have a fraction of the success they have! My personal favourite is
Giorgio Armani: with his clean cuts and fluid lines, for me he is the emblem of
elegance. Among others, I also love Jean Paul Gaultier: he is certainly one of
the most inventive, unique and provocative designers of our era. 

7. If you could put your designs on any celebrity, which would you choose
and why?

I always find it really difficult to picture one ideal person that could
wear my clothes. Probably I would say Adele: like my designs, she appeals to a
wide audience, from kids to grandmas…! Also, I find her very classy, timelessly
elegant; and that is what I want to achieve with my creations.

8. When you are asked, “What is Fashion?” What is the first thing that comes
to mind?

Coco Chanel said:  “A girl should be two things: classy and
fabulous”.  This quote encloses the meaning of fashion for me: a sort of
‘magic’ that allows people to become an enhanced version of themselves.

9. What advice would you give to an up and coming designer?

Never give up!! Sometimes I have to remember it myself, but for me it’s
really at the base of anyone’s success: you need to build it step by step, day
after day, and don’t let that failure discourage you. If you want something
with all your heart, you’ll eventually succeed.

10. What is next for you and your brand?

I’ll start with enjoying this upcoming fashion
week and hopefully I’ll also enjoy some results. On a longer term, I’d like to
expand my brand and start a bigger production than the one I’ve got now. And
then, who knows…sky is the limit!

I am so grateful to Emanuela doing this interview with me. I wish her all the best this Sunday. If you still haven’t got your tickets for Sunday, head to http://www.oxfordfashionstudio.com/tickets/ now. You can get tickets from as little as £25. It’s going to be absolutely amazing!

Victoryforu

Victorious Everyday