Kalistan

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Del Valle takes aim at Eastern Fashion Markets
Maria Olivia debuts new Couture Collection
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
January 25, 5634


Sulari Fashion week Kicks off with the Olivia Couture Collection from Del Valle

Couture fashion in Kalistan is usually produced by foreign fashion houses.  As a result, couture fashion is frequently outside of the price range of most Kalistani citizens, who have adapted their tastes to local fashions and trends.  However, following the widely hailed triumph of the work of Del Valle designer Maria Olivia, who is based in Yoshimi and who designed the Empress' Coronation Dress in 5632, Del Valle has set its sights on making a run for the Seleyan Couture consumer base.

"We've seen great work come from places like Lourenne and Egelion," said Olivia, in a recent interview with La Moda.  "They have set the standard for high fashion, and they have a lot of experience making very pretty clothing.  But I think we can compete locally.  Designing fashion is often about giving people what they say they want, well, giving it to the right people, so others can decide that they want that too.  While we do have to give props to Egelion for their work, I don't think they have asked Kalistani women what they want.  So Del Valle is here to do that."

Olivia's Spring Collection was premiered in Sulari last week at the very start of Fashion week in the southern Capital.  Her collection, which consisted primarily of high fashion day and evening wear, was sleek, form fitting, flattering, and interesting.  "We paired high contrasting lines on our designs to make a woman wearing our clothes to really stand out in a crowd," said Olivia.  "Much of the work is meant to be dramatic, but not distracting, so that a woman wearing our dresses can easily go into a setting and be the talk of the entire social scene."

Olivia said she had the Empress in mind when she was designing her pieces.  "I think back on what the Empress would look like at say, a cocktail Party, and while Her Imperial Majesty does have a style that is all her own, I really think if she were to ever put one of these dresses on, she would simultaneously turn heads, and at the same time people would say, 'Oh yeah, that's what an Empress would wear to this event.'  Most of my models also have close to her measurements, so she could theoretically step into any one of these dresses without needing to tailor them, and go to any event she needed to."

The fabrics that Olivia chose for her fabrics are at least a 75-25 Linen Cotton blend, with silk accents, and even some cashmere on a few pieces.  "I stayed more on the lighter side given that we are coming into Spring, and temps will be going up," said Olivia.  "But I also wanted to stay on the natural fiber side as well.  We could have had some synthetics in this, but this is Couture, baby.  We go with the best."  She said her pieces are machine sewn but several accents are hand sewn by expert craftsmen and women.  "If you can't tell the difference, we've done our job," Olivia said.

She said the new line will be in boutiques in Sulari and Kaliburg by April.  "Just in time for the Ladies to get out to the galas and strut their stuff," Olivia said with a smile.  Her entire line was well received by both critics and buyers who admired her craftsmanship, the durability of her designs and her fittings.  She said she intends to get to work on the fall collection immediately following fashion week, and can't wait to see what Del Valle does in Summer.  A successful Spring Season will set Del Valle up really well going into the summer months, and will allow Maria Olivia to continue her quest to become a household name.

@LaModa