Designer Silvia Tcherassi delivers fashion finesse for uncertain times.
PHOTO BY MEI TAO/@TAOMEITAO/COURTESY OF SILVIA TCHERASSI
Colombian designer Silvia Tcherassi (silviatcherassi.com) is known and respected for infusing haute couture details into her various lines, which have been beloved by Miami’s best-dressed women since she first opened shop in the city (her home) in 1997. The challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t change her commitment to sartorial quality but rather galvanized her to deliver even more of the kind of clothes that once prompted Women’s Wear Daily to dub her the “pioneer of Latin flair.” For proof, look no further than her fall 2021 oeuvre, a collection of garments that are all about artistry and duality.
What can you tell us about your new fall collection?
It’s called Melange and features unlikely combinations, like our signature cotton blouses embellished with bold, sequined polka dots for example. There are timeless stripes and geometric patterns with polished pieces that feature prints inspired by Milanese silk ties from the ’80s. Autumnal classics like herringbone and velvet give the assortment a seasonal feel, while loose silhouettes accentuated with masculine belts or feminine tasseled ribbons further insinuate a play on the collection’s duality.
What was the inspiration behind it?
It’s based on the idea of an artistic collage that blends various elements, textures and colors.
The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have influenced the way all creatives work. How did it affect you?
It changed a whole lot of things, not so much in the creative process but rather in how the collection comes to life. Fashion must always quickly adapt to the changes in society and to people’s needs, and that’s what we did. There’s definitely a greater emphasis on comfort, and blouses are having a moment.
You’ve been designing for various decades and were one of the first Latin American designers to show at European fashion weeks. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
When I presented my first collection at Fashion Week in Milan, Giorgio Armani expressed that he liked my ‘sophisticated and elegant’ designs. That collection was more demicouture than pret-a- porter and entirely produced in Colombia. Armani’s comments gave me the confidence to explore luxury from my cultural roots.
What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t a fashion designer?
I majored in interior design, so had I not gone into fashion, I would have likely continued in that field. When you have a clear vision, you can apply it to fashion or spaces in a way that’s coherent.
Photography by: Courtesy of Unsplash
