A biochemist by day and an international fashion designer by night, as the premise for a Hollywood movie it sounds a bit far fetched but for Margot Ines Ferreira Rosales (above with model) it’s a way of life. The 34 year old Uruguayan beat 156 rivals from 17 countries to become Young International Designer of Atlantic Fashion at the Magma Arts and Congress Centre in Tenerife last night.
The bright and beautiful people of film and fashion were drawn like moths to a radiant flame to see the final 11 designers battle it out on the catwalk in Costa Adeje. It was red carpet stuff as Spanish movie star Rossy de Palma and Malaga design guru David Delfin mingled with other top movers and shakers from the clothes industry. I had a wash for the occasion and even squeezed into some proper trousers but those with natural style and confidence were able to carry off anything. David Delfin looked like he had just come off the football terrace and even Adeje mayor Fraga pitched up in jeans.
The finer points of fashion may be lost on me but the leggy hostess girls, poured into tight black numbers, certainly caught my eye. After plenty of posing and air kissing we filed into the main hall which was split with seating on either side of a fluorescent white catwalk. The lights dimmed and the throbbing music kicked in as multi coloured spotlights picked out the models” entrance between two large video screens. The presentation was excellent, no compere analysing and interrupting the flow, just 4 models for each designer strutting their stuff after the basic details of the designers were flashed on the big screens.
The costumes ranged from the bright vibrant yellows and blues of the opening PHI collection from Lanzarote’s Zuka Farias Gola to the wilder barrier breaking Mexican style explosions of Karla Gabriela Guevera Ponce. The child like joy of pony tails, ribbons and bows from Argentina’s Cintia Vanesa Sosa and Maria Fernanda Arnaldi was a favourite of mine, helped by the skipping enthusiasm of the models. Serge Bakalyna of Russia made quite an impact too with his Breath Taker collection. The female models had a brief rest as Andre Brasil Paiva presented his The Other Side with serious broody men in bold cut away suits.
There could be only one winner and Margot got the nod with her Los Velos de la Memoria (Veils of the Memory) , featuring hats and veils set at a jaunty angle to set off stylish and daring dresses (see 2 pics above). It was a tense reverse roll call as the big moment approached but team Margot exploded with joy as their names were announced. A cheque for 4,000 euros was presented, a small token that will be dwarfed by the kudos, acclaim and of course work that comes as a result of this honour. Margot will have plenty to enthuse about over the beakers and Bunsen burners when she gets back to her Montevideo laboratory,
Check out more photos at this Flickr set.
