His second show on the official calendar, Felipe Oliveira Baptista was awarded by the ANDM with the LVMH grant this year. Very aware of the current world headlines, the Portuguese designer interpreted the ‘world’s troubles’ couture gowns and dresses going for hybrid outfits, strange sharp shapes that are ready to take off.

Known for his use of volume, Baptista experiments this season with tight silhouettes as he searches for an accurate vision and a clear sight of what is couture and women’s high fashion.

Showing only once a year for haute couture, Maurizio Galante who is an accomplished artist works on side projects the rest of the year between design, conception and exhibition.

For Spring 2006, Maurizio Galante draws from his artistic background to create sensual silhouettes of antique lace, ribbon origami and feathers. Working on the couture idea of the unique, designs a collection using all the colors of wine. And like a great wine that has been maturating for years, this collection is sensitive, colorful and priceless.

The Bulgarian-Portuguese trio has been the sweetest troublemaker in the official calendar of Couture for the last ten years. It’s been ten years too that they have been working with Christian Lacroix who first invited them to join the Official calendar.

An inventive and imaginary world that comes from « feelings » is the theme. An ironic world of pastel colors, subtleties « dévorés », Prince of Wales fabric that gets crazy, coats like clouds, princess dresses… Dreams that you can wear…

Richard René trained for 3 years under Claude Brouet at Hermès and 7 years at Jean Paul Gaultier. He won the Hyères Festival award in 2004 and showed for the first time under his name in January 2005. He comes back for a second show in January 2006.

Exalting elegance by using leather or crepe shelters, he dresses women in black or white with an outrageous faux minimalism. Studying the woman’s body like an architect, he creates new proportions as he wraps the woman in silk crepes coated with silk satin.

Georges Hobeika loves women and makes a tribute to the Hollywood stars from the 1950s, « femmes fatales » that have fulfilled our minds with their attitudes, graces and sensuality. In his workshop in Beirut, over 12 embroiderers are working all year long to keep with the traditional « savoir-faire » learnt in the times of the Grande Parisian Couture. He has grown up with the pictures of Parisian shows of his mother workshop and the idea of « Chic Parisien ».