Altaroma Press Kit May2012

Altaroma Italian Haute Couture and Interior Design Luxury Event
Altaroma
Adriano Franchi, General Director
Commercialbank of Qatar
Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, Deputy CEO
The St. Regis Doha
Tareq Derbas, General Manager
The driving force behind Italian haute couture and a new launch pad for emerging
designers, Altaroma is synonymous with tradition and experimentation.
From the promotion of Made-in-Italy products to the safeguarding of the artisanal
values that have made Rome famous throughout the world, Altaroma’s mission is
based on maximizing all forms of excellence ranging from the most traditional right up
to neo-couture, considered the definition of a new language, a meeting place between
sartorial tradition, research and cutting-edge trends in an international scenario
boasting a meld of art, fashion and culture.
Representative: Adriano Franchi, General Director
Haute
Couture
Renato Balestra is a name synonymous with
Italian haute couture. His collections represent
Italian taste and refinement with an
international approach that emphasizes
optimism and timelessness. Today, Balestra's
atelier produces thirty different lines ranging
from fashion accessories, cosmetics and
furniture to a ready-to-wear line for men and
women.
Representatives:
Fabiana Balestra, Owner; Sofia Bertolli; Angela Fauzza
Curiel had its origins in the eminent dressmaking atelier of Ortensia Curiel
in Trieste in the late 19th century, a tradition carried on by her
granddaughter Gigliola in post-World War II Milan, by Gigliola’s daughter
Raffaella, known as Lella, since the 1960s, and, since the 1990s, by
Raffaella’s daughter Gigliola. During the fervent ’50s and ‘60s of Italy’s
economic boom, Curiel’s atelier became an absolute must for La Scala
premiers and the social events of the Milanese aristocracy. The house
takes its creative inspiration from influences as diverse as the seventeenthcentury paintings of Velasquez and Vermeer and the magical and
multicoloured Mexico of Frida Kahlo. Curiel’s fashion is incisive,
autonomous, and sophisticated, a strongly modern interpretation of a
precious inheritance of design and artisan technique handed down and
enriched through generations.
Representatives:
Raffaella Curiel, Owner; Gaetano Curiel; Daniela Colombo;
Gabriella Cucchetti
RAFFAELLA CURIEL
Maison Gattinoni
Maison Gattinoni history is linked to its founder Fernanda Gattinoni (1907 – 2002),
who opened her first atelier in 1946 in Rome. Regular visitors to the atelier Gattinoni
included aristocrats from the Roman and international jet set and Hollywood
actresses Anna Magnani, Lana Turner, Bette Davis, Barbra Stanwick, Ingrid
Bergman, Gina Lollobrigida, Ava Gardner, Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey
Hepburn. Today, the luxury brand Gattinoni can be seen on the red carpets of the
world worn by contemporary Hollywood actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Susan
Sarandon, Vanessa Redgrave, Charlotte Rampling, Fanny Ardant and Greta
Scacchi.
Since 1994, Guillermo Mariotto has been the creator of Maison Gattinoni , and since
2010,
Creative Director of Gattinoni Couture collections. He began his career
working with Krizia and Dolce e Gabbana. For the forthcoming season, Guillermo
Mariotto has envisioned a theme of
“Cosmo-Renaissance” for the haute couture
collection, evidenced through fusions, hybrids, laminated pleats, fluorescent, pleated
organzas, transparent chiffon, and applications reminiscent of the deposits of the
layers of mother of pearl, in shades of silver, gold, coral, light blue and ivory, all a
hymn to haute couture, a tribute to elegance.
Representatives: Patrizia Gattinoni, Owner; Patrizia Pizzicheria, Owner; Edoardo
Gattinoni, Press Officer; Marza Bronzini; Edoardo de' Giorgio; Francesco Carlo Maria
Chiapperini
Antonio Grimaldi
A narrator of style and excellent craftsmanship, Antonio Grimaldi is an accomplished designer of exciting and evocative reactions. His
fabrics exalt the female figure in an innovative way, without being overpowering. He succeeds in finding original, elegant and tailored
solutions with an international flavour. His creations are alluring, seductive and emotional. An international designer and world citizen,
Antonio Grimaldi knows the exclusive and unique world of haute couture, and was personally recommended by Emanuel Ungaro to the
Chambre Syndicale de la mode de Paris so that he would be included in the official calendar of Paris fashion shows.
Representatives: Antonio Grimaldi, Designer; Alessandro De Cian; Patrizia Gucciardo; Laura Gucciardo
Sarli
"Like magic, the silhouette of Sarli’s women proudly comes forward, a woman who chooses for
the coming season the luminous and sparkling colors of the sun. The blending of yellow, red,
orange, gold and white creates chromatic images which take us back in time and to far-away
places. Couture which is refined but also wearable, a must for today’s life style."
Representatives:
Alberto Sarli, Owner
Alberto Terra, Owner
Michele Maria Di Masi
Rita Scacchi
Tiziana Rocca
Rocco Palermo
Interior
Design
Vetrerie di Empoli SPA (Griffe Montenapoleone – Milano) was founded in 1938 as a shop dedicated
to retail sales of a Tuscan factory for discerning Milanese families. Becoming a joint stock company,
Vetrerie di Empoli then launched an international distribution network. A flagship store opened in the
1990s on Via Montenapoleone to an international and sophisticated clientele, with the most successful
designs presented to the trade under the brand of Griffe Montenapoleone. The company has achieved
international renown with its classic and fashion interiors collections, including bespoke designs.
Representative: Simona Belforti, Export Manager
Provasi is a company with a deep knowledge of
the highest quality furniture-art of the past. They
specialise in reinterpretations of classics of the
golden periods of the history of European
furniture, especially English and French, with
each piece born from a tireless curiosity and
attention to all expressions of elegance. Provasi
craftsmen pay particular attention to each detail,
playing with proportions and colour effects, to
achieve a unique variation in each finished piece,
so that no piece is the same as another. The
result is an articulated and extremely rich
collection, illustrated by a general catalogue
which, in the hands of trained professionals,
becomes an excellent instrument to achieve an
Representatives:
environment of enormous elegance.
Roberto Provasi, Owner
Dr. Carlo Francolini, Commercial Director
Zeina Chbeir, Gulf Agency
Villari was established in the late 1960s near Venice. Seeking
inspiration from Capodimonte porcelain along with Baroque artworks,
Villari creates some of the finest porcelains in the world. Each piece
is moulded by founders Cesare and Silvia and then delicately
reproduced by Villari's exceptionally talented craftsmen. The
presiding founders take great care in sourcing only the finest and
rarest materials – such as 24 karat gold or platinum – to finish their
works, ensuring the most superior results. The factors that have
brought success and international prestige to Villari are, of course,
the great artistic and technical skills evident in their original creations.
The range of Villari’s production is wide, and includes figurines, dining
sets, chandeliers, and bathroom accessories. Villari can found in the
most prestigious department stores worldwide, including Harrods in
London, or in Villari boutiques in the Dubai Mall, Evropiski in Moscow,
and in Teheran.
Representatives: Jean-Sebastien Masnada, Export Director;
Alessandra Milari, Managing Director
Molteni
The Molteni Group, leader in design of quality furniture, presents
itself with the brands Molteni&C, Dada, and the Armani/Dada
trademark, from the exclusive collaboration with Armani Casa. One
of Italy’s leading furnishings companies, Molteni offers furnishings in
Italy and in over fifty countries all over the world. The Group started
out in the 1930s as a small craftsman’s business, growing
considerably in the fifties and moving into industrial production. The
company is known for its furnishings blending advanced technology
with old world tradition. Since the seventies, Molteni has taken a
distinctive direction: that of ongoing research into the modular
furnishing sector to produce a series of ideas for every room in the
house, from the wardrobe to the living area to the study/home office.
Representatives:
Moreno Vitaloni, Owner; Moreno Molteni, Owner
Baldi
The Baldi collections tell of precious items drawing upon the richness of the past and the lightness of contemporary
languages, producing home furnishings which draw freely on styles and fashions, historical materials and decors,
arriving at a home full of luxurious atmosphere to be savoured slowly. Baldi offers the refined Class Collections with
furnishing elements such as tables, chairs, consoles, furnishing complements, candelabras and lamps. Large formats,
attention to detail, use of precious materials such as lapis lazuli, malachite, amethyst, Tiger’s eye, jasper and antique
work techniques such as those of Russian origin for mosaics used to upholster the products, are fused with distinctive
detail treatments in silvered or 24 karat gilt bronze.
Representative: Luca Baldi, CEO
Seguso
From generation to generation, the Seguso family has kept alive the art of glassmaking: an art performed in
extreme conditions, the contrary of the decadent elegance you admire in a glass object. Fire, sweat,
maximum concentration both physical and mental, and techniques perfected over the past ten centuries
make for unique masterpieces. Glass master Gianni Seguso has invested in young people, teaching and
forming the masters who work today in his own factory. These are masters
who work in absolute expressive freedom, but always
to an extremely high quality, the compulsory "signature"
of Gianni Seguso. The production range is vast, ranging
from the classic, prestigious and extremely intricate
"Ca' Rezzonico" chandeliers to entirely new ideas and
lines, all giving new energy to the antique art of
Murano glass.
Representative: Gianni Seguso, Owner
Grand Royal Furniture Trading LLC
Established in Europe in 2000 and opened its first showroom in the Gulf in February of
2011, with another showroom opening at the Pearl Qatar.
The company is one of the leading companies in Europe and the Middle East offering
design and furnishing services for projects of varying complexity, including hotels, banks,
offices, restaurants, spa-centers, private villas, and state institutions. Their project division
consists of a team of interior designers, architects and engineers offering service for
projects on a turnkey basis.
They are an authorised dealer of such famous Italian brands as Versace Home, Fendi,
Blumarine, Jumbo, Ipe Cavalli, La Contessina, Francesco Molon, Elle due and also display
the world-famous brands Faustig, Mechini, Metalbi, Crystalite, Italamp, Arcadia Doors,
Codital, Kerasan, Bagno Piu and Mova.
Representatives:
Tetyana Starynets, Gamid Aushev and Lyalya Chorna
Poltrona Frau
An international brand representing the design, elegance and perfection of Italian-made
products. Coming from solid Italian origins but with an international reach, Poltrona Frau
is a leader in top-of- the-range furniture, and is a spokesman throughout the world for
the values associated with the design and production of Italian-made goods.
For over 100 years, Poltrona Frau has been refining its sophisticated expertise in handcrafted workmanship. This expertise continues to be passed down by master craftsmen
from generation to generation.
The intimate and timeless elegance, the personality of each individual piece, are the
fruit of the craftsman’s skill and a design that enhances hand-crafted workmanship even
in the most modern forms. The manufacturing expertise has always been combined
with research into materials, in order to obtain the best from leather and from the
exclusive Pelle Frau®, modernising them while keeping their original, natural softness,
warmth and tactile qualities.
Representative: Sara Zuliani, Showroom Manager
High quality, reliable and durable products, assiduous attention to detail and strict compliance
with deadlines are the qualities that have characterised Cassina’s output ever since the
company’s founding in 1927. This combination of antique art with modern industrial
processes has enabled Cassina to reach such a high standard in the production of armchairs,
sofas, chairs, tables, component units and beds that each piece can be considered unique in
its own right.
The presence of numerous examples of Cassina’s production in museums, art galleries,
cultural centres and in the homes of the select the world over only go to consolidate this
reputation.
The mid ‘60s saw Cassina exhibiting the “Cassina I Maestri” collection alongside its current
production. This consisted of a series of reconstructions of the most striking representations
of the Modern Movement, an exhibition that proved to be a milestone for Italian and
international design.
“The success of Cappellini’s masterplan can be measured by the realization of its
collections during the last thirty years through its fruitful collaboration with designers.
Pleasure for its own sake and pleasure for others take an important place in Cappellini
philosophy.”
Achille Castiglioni
“Naturally I am very happy when a Cappellini product enters the permanent collection of a
museum of art. But I am really happier when I see it in the real houses of people; in this
case I feel I have reached the true purpose of design.”
Giulio Cappellini
Ferrari - Alfardan Sports Motors
Alfardan Sports Motors Company is the importer of Ferrari and Maserati in Qatar since 1999. Part of
Alfardan Group, the company has been recognised as the country’s premium attraction for sports and
luxury cars enthusiasts, gratifying the aficionados of sports vehicles in Qatar.
Alfardan Sports Motors is driven by a persistent commitment towards the Italian design heritage and
craftsmanship that Ferrari and Maserati represent, reflecting the core values of Ferrari and Maserati in
every ownership experience.
Alfardan Sports Motors provides its esteemed customers with cutting-edge technology and first-class
customer care services. The state-of-the-art showroom and After-sales facilities characterise new
standards of luxury and elegance, offering its clients unique, exclusive, luxury experiences.
Representative: Ahmad Mansour, Marketing Manager
MAURIZIO FAVETTA
Maurizio Favetta was born in Bolzano Italy, lives in Milan, working around the world.
Until 1994: chief designer at Matteo Thun studio in Milan and project leader of Swatch stores worldwide.
1994: founder of King Size Design with headquarters in Via Tortona in Milan.
1995: launch of King Size editions (world furniture collection)
2002: founding partner of Crea International (retail company: Physical Brand Design)
2007: founding member of Made in Project (design, delivery force) with which designs and manufactures the
theatre auditorium Mugham House in Baku, Azerbaijan.
2008: Founder of Kingsize Architects
2009 – 2011: Consultant Advanced Research lighting Projects for Philips Lighting Eindhoven
2011: establish the joint venture “Italian Design Force” (Kingsize Architects - New Tone) with which it
designs the mall Jelly Kish in Kish Island (Iran).
2012: launch Kingsize Prestige division for the realization of luxury residential projects in the Middle East.
In Saudi Arabia Riyadh he has completed the interior design of the new headquarter of Al Saedan Real Estate
Company and he is author of the new technological permanent exibition centre inside the new headquarter of
Royal Commission.
He has been visiting professor at the most qualified Italian design schools.
Honorary member of AIPI, Association of Italian Interior designers.
He organized several personal exhibitions at: Abitare il Tempo, Made, Interni Think Tank ,
Home & Design Spa, Expo Riva Hotel.
Among the major projects in the hospitality field, he designed the lobby of Marriott Hotel on the Croisette
in Cannes, and the ROTANA Rhossos hotel & apartments in Antakia (Turkey).
Riva
Building on a legend…it was in 1842, at Lago d’Iseo, where the story of Pietro Riva
began.
After a sudden storm wreaked havoc, he managed to accomplish a miracle by
repairing most of the boats, and becoming the master of his own destiny. Pietro
opened his shipyard in Sarnico, where the fist Riva creations were built, and the Riva
legend continues forever.
Representative: Naim Majadalani
MD International
An Italian-based company founded by Denis Muller, has specialised for over 20
years in producing haute couture fashion events for French and Italian designers
outside of their countries. MD International works with over 200 owners of luxury
brands from all over the world, particularly from the UK, the USA, Switzerland,
France, and Italy.
The company developed the first exhibition of the history of haute couture, and
owns the right to exhibit luxury artworks in France, gathering the most iconic brands
and pieces. They have staged numerous haute couture fashion events and exhibits
benefitting charitable foundations for clients such as Her Highness Sheikha Sabika
Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Mrs. Raoui and Mrs. Hariri of Lebanon, Queen
Rania of Jordan, and members of the royal families of Thailand and Malaysia.
Representatives: Denis Muller, owner