DALLAS, Apr 20, 2006/ FW/ --- Luca Orlandi is a perfectionist when it comes to his creations. That’s how he keeps his elite and celebrity clientele clamoring for his daywear and eveningwear everyday of the year. Wikkie Kruasophon, Assistant Designer to Luca Orlandi accents Maison Luca Luca’s method with expert creativity.

Like in couture houses, a custom Luca Luca design must be measured and scrutinized for perfection. A preliminary measurement is made once the customer meets the designer and his staff for the first time.

Again, as in the famed Paris salons in the lofty world of haute couture, the designer is backed up with a team. And for Luca Orlandi, his ‘right hand man’ or in this case, ‘right hand woman’ is Wikkie Kruasophon, a graduate of Parsons School of Design.

Wikkie Kruasophon specializes in original and sophisticated constructions, and her illustrations translate easily to the body. Working closely with Chief Designer Luca Orlandi, she contributes her sketches and other artistic talents to the maison's operations.

Her influence can be seen in Luca Luca’s concept development and the selection of trims and fabrics. This was best exemplified during the Red Dress Collection catwalk show held last February during the New York fashion season.

The Red Dress Collection is an annual initiative to create awareness about women and heart disease. Designers create a one-of-a-kind red dress for a celebrity catwalker who in turn presents it to supporters of the charity and the media via a fashion show.

Since the inception of the Red Dress Collection, Luca Luca has always supported it. And last February, Yolanda Adams was the celebrity catwalker who was chosen to represent the ‘red dress’ from the maison.

Together with Luca Orlandi, Wikkie Kruasophon met with Yolanda Adams to discuss the design of the dress and take preliminary measurements. Once her initial measurements were taken into consideration, Ms. Adams was asked to return in order to model the muslin sample, or a rough cut of the finished design. Here is where the process could get difficult.

It is the responsibility of designers like Wikkie to listen to any suggestions the client might have. Topics like the length of the piece and how much the celebrity is willing to bare in the red carpet arenas are frequent topics.

In this stage, fabric selection is also an issue. Wikkie sat with eager ears to listen to everything and anything Yolanda suggested regarding variant patterns and different fabrics.

Then, on the final day, Yolanda was ready to walk away with her Luca Luca custom crafted piece, but not before the final fitting.

Wikkie aided Yolanda in the selection of shoes and accessories. Yolanda’s reps were there for moral support as the songstress sat through the busy process of custom fitting couture.

Once every stitch and cut was inspected, and the piece fitted every inch of Yolanda’s carefully researched measurements, the singer walked out of the 690 Madison Avenue flagship boutique confident that her Luca Luca red dress would be perfect.

At Luca Luca, celebrity appearances are nothing out of the ordinary for this haute fashion house. However, as in the case of Yolanda Adam, they typically require a few extra steps in the process of dressmaking.

Since Wikkie’s arrival at Luca Luca over one year ago, she has fitted many A-list stars with professionalism and dedication to striking originality.

Born and raised in Thailand, Wikkie Kruasophon developed her passion for design at an early age. She diligently practiced drawing on sketchpads and any other canvasses that she could find.

To perfect her talent, she attended the renowned Taxila Fashion School in Thailand. Here, she gave her special skills to the school’s programs, like her final round appearance in the FDCM Fashion Brand Contest. In this contest, she built an original brand that included sales, marketing, production direction, and public relations.

To break into the New York society of fashion, Wikkie began attending the Parsons School of Design. While at this school, Wikkie found positions at Anna Sui and Kenneth Cole. Ranking among the top members of her class, she excelled in everything she did in New York. Most of her works have been seen in the Parsons AAS Exhibition and in the Parsons AAS Fashion Show in 2005.

Wikkie Kruasophon is a member of an uncompromising design team at Luca Luca. Natural talent and years of meticulous training combine to create an output of energy and excitement for this assistant designer.