Giuliana Testino: Organic Chic To Dye For
By Melanie Rickey
Photos by Gruber-FWD
Click on image to see full photo
LONDON, Sep 13, 2002/ FWD/ --- Testinos keep it in the family.
London Fashion Week got off to a tres chic start this morning.
Mario and Giovanni Testino's younger sister Giuliana opened the week of shows with an intimate
breakfast presentation of her new collection at her brother's modernist building in West London.
Rose Marie Bravo of Burberry popped in for a look.
Bravo is a fan of Giuliana's specialist work, and the two are collaborating on some exclusive
pieces for the launch of Burberry's New York store on November 7.
Essentially the earth tone collection is a very sexy, and very Peruvian version of Missoni.
Giuliana designs the chic and decorative body-hugging shift dresses, tiny hot-pants, beautiful
shawls, kimono jackets, evening coats, bikinis and belts.
Then her team of 400 knit and crochet experts in Lima make each piece by hand using Peruvian cotton.
The most complex dress takes more than three weeks to produce by hand; despite this retail
price points are between $140 and $900.
"At first I was inspired by work from the highland region of Huancavalica, using the diamond
shapes to design the pieces. Now I am working on more complex designs," said Giuliana,
gesturing to a delectable webby dress, that on a body will leave little to the imagination.
As Giuliana talked journalists through the collection, Mario looked on proudly.
"She has so much elegance and taste and is incredibly chic, just like our mother who has
always been very particular about style. We grew up with it. I love that she is helping so
many women in Peru. Of course I encouraged her. I am the eldest. It is a big pressure! I like
to keep the family in line."
"What I love about her clothes is that I can see a woman in Capri wearing her dresses and shawls
and a girl in Ibiza in the hot pants and see through dress," continued Mario.
Giuliana, who is 42 and has a 13 year old son called Ulisse, is passionate about the craft
that goes into her work.
"There is so much we can do with crochet, I work so closely with my ladies to create beautiful
things. I am their teacher."
The collection is currently available on net-a-porter.com, and Harvey Nichols in London.
Giuliana Testino
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