PARIS — Salon International de la Lingerie’s Ultra Lingerie catwalk show, with a theme of fantasy and decadence, is upping the fashion factor for its fourth edition with supermodel-turned-designer Eva Herzigova, who signed up to preside over the jury.
Fifty fantasy creations will compete during the Champagne event, scheduled for Feb. 2 at 7.30 p.m. The fashions are being dreamed up by designer and fabric specialist teams. Designer brand companies including Aubade, Huit, Verde Veronica and Calvin Klein Underwear are partnering with textile manufacturers such as Miroglio Spa Dream and Nylatex, and French lace maker Noyon.
Themes that will be explored include Vintage-Romantic, Victoriana-Dandy and Rock-Goth.
“The event serves to show lingerie can be lifted to a haute couture level,” said Cecile Vivier, SIL’s sales manager, adding the competition has garnered growing press attention.
“Via press coverage, it’s become a way of reaching out to the general public,” she said.
The event also lets designers and textile manufacturers from the Interfilière section mingle.
“Given free rein to push their creative limits, designers are able to discover new textiles they might not typically use for commercial product,” said Vivier.
The trade fair’s trend forum will serve as a tunnel leading up to the show’s arena, which will seat around 1,000 guests made up of an international selection of VIP “Gold Buyers,” exhibitors and press.
The jury, made up mainly of industry specialists such as Edith Keller, chief executive officer of the Carlin International design studio, and Jos Berry, ceo of Concepts, an international design and forecasting studio, will feature people from other trades such as Paris Match reporter Agathe Godard and French chef Jean-Pierre Vigato from Parisian restaurant Apicius.
“We thought it would be fun to diversify the panel to bring in a new perspective on lingerie,” said Vivier.
Aside from the special jury prize, awards will be given for the most innovative use of fabric and the most extravagant creation.