Accademia Italiana shows off what its Bangkok students have come up with in its first three years
Founded in Florence and borrowed by Bangkok, the 26-year-old fashion institute Accademia Italiana showed the creations of its first graduates last week.
The mother school in Italy has big-name alumni like Pucci, Gucci, Prada, Lacroix, Ferragamo and Vivian Westwood, so its Thai branch - which opened in 2007 at H1 on Soi Thonglor - was bound to draw the celebrities.
Among the inaugural class were Sunisa Jet, Pimpaporn Leenutapong, Patthamon Taechanarong and Sisira Disakul.
The graduation show included 120 outfits by 14 past and current students, presented on a runway by professional models.
Graduate Eva Kirn of Germany has a collection called Wustenkind, which translates as "desert child". Inspired by her travels, she concocted light outfits graded from white to dark brown, all very wearable and very feminine.
Kornwika Chichutrakoon, who's already won awards for the lingerie and swimsuits she's made for Triumph, presented ebony clothing straight out of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". It's purely creative, she said, not street wear.
Sophomore Pimpaporn Leenutapong made her catwalk debut inspired by a Renaissance church's stained-glass windows. "I like paying attention to details, which I think in turn create confident and unique character."
Bonunsa Khao Yai Resort heiress Pattamon Taechanarong, also in her second year, called her collection "Believe in No Faith". Infused with her own self-confidence, the predominantly black outfits looked comfortable, not tight. They borrowed from Germany's women soldiers, but Pattamon added a little lace.
Actress Sunisa Jet, a junior, modelled her own dressy designs, including a one-shoulder beige corset with draped skirt. She showed her passion for drawing and painting.
"To me, fashion is also an art form that expresses individuality," she said. "There's neither right nor wrong, and no limits."
Surawee Susomboon actually graduated from the Italian academy and recently opened his first boutique, Passione, on Soi Thonglor. For the Bangkok show he presented pieces inspired by Florence's Duomo architecture, including a cocktail dress with a geometric look.