Passion for fashion flourishes in Gib’s bosom

By Elena Scialtiel

Three local fashion designers, Charlene Figueras, Jane Langdon and Poonam Rupani, displayed their original creations at the Model for a Day event held last September 4 in aid of the Bosom Buddies charity.

This marked the return of homemade and handmade haute couture after Runway went on a hiatus during the pandemic, showcasing local talent and presented in a marina sunset ambience to a packed audience lining waterfront or dining at the restaurants’ terraces.

The show, compered by GBC presenter Stefan Borge and former Miss Gibraltar Faith Torres, opened with a rhythmic gymnastics display directed by Sally Holmes, whose girls pirouetted, skipped, cart-wheeled and even built a human pyramid along the red carpet.

The first fashion designer to take the runway was Charlene Figueras, presenting her collection of casual and eveningwear fashioned in a patchwork of strips and squares of upcycled denim in all its shades.

Photo by John Holmes

A large number of imaginative outfits were modelled by local girls and women, showing the audience how versatile jeans can be not just for comfort, but for elegance too.

Denim was followed by a gypsy Parisian vibe in Jane Langdon’s collection of printed fabrics featuring excerpts from her paintings.

Her models sported vibrant outfits, casual and yet suitable for a poolside party, at the rhythm of Dennis Valerga’s original composition Spirit of the Wild, an energetic mash-up of middle-eastern sound with a dash of Prime Nations echoes.

Jane also teamed up with one of Gibraltar’s finest artistic exports, Christian Hook, who hand-painted and signed three outfits from Jane’s white linen collection.

These were auctioned in aid of the charity, with the bidding starting at £500, for the privilege of securing Christian’s first foray into the ‘material’ world.

The most striking was modelled by former Miss Gibraltar Sarah Yeats and featured life-size bright red prints of Christian’s palms on the bust, while the other two displayed doodles and swirls in the same colour.

Last but not least, it was Poonam’s collection ‘Seraphina’ that wowed the ladies with its wilderness and ocean inspirations.

The shimmer of tropical waters and relaxed ecru yarn, matched with shell and bead accessories to keep with the marine theme consistent.

The show drew to a close with an emotional parade of cancer survivors and supporters in their favourite outfits, whether prêt-a-porter or designed and put together specifically for the occasion, paced by a booming remix of Italian golden oldies.

Nine guests were treated to goody bags and vouchers from Queensway Quay establishments after finding winning envelopes under their seats.

The event which was in its second year.

It was again organised by Brenda Guilliano and Bosom Buddies founder Sonia Golt, who regularly musters her army of cancer survivors for a glamorous fundraiser, with more pizzazz every year, and all for awareness, prevention and early detection of cancer.