Manuel Facchini looked to sculptures and aquatic underwater creatures for his spring presentation held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in The Mall.
“She is very strong, proud and self-confident,” Facchini said of his woman. “But as you see her, she looks like a nymph. It is the contrast between something very soft and something very dramatic at the same time. For me, the contrasts always come together to create a new image.”
The designer said he took cues from Siamese fighting fish (aka betta fish) and their vibrant colors and long flowing fins, which resemble delicate flowers. A lover of juxtaposition, he was fascinated with how the betta’s fins transform into spikes when it’s provoked. “I take inspiration from contrasts,” Facchini said. “I fell in love with these fins and I translated them into flowers.”
This meant architectural silhouettes that were fused with feminine shapes and details, creating sensual pieces that were well-crafted and wearable. The contrast was seen in a black leather laser-cut lace floral crop top teamed with matching cropped trousers. A sheer printed organza dress was constructed with soft layers and formed a 3-D trompe l’oeil effect, with colors reflecting an ocean palette of aqua, green and coral.
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Elsewhere, Facchini experimented with shiny metallic embellishments on the bodice of dresses, including a long white floor-length gown with a high slit.