'CYPRUS' AND 'FASHION' ARE SELDOM FOUND IN THE SAME SENTENCE AS THIS ISLAND OF SOME 800,000 IS NOT EXACTLY THE CITADEL OF COUTURE.
Newsmakers Unplugged in action! Watch the full show on ASTRO Star World channel in September/October
But I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with local Cypriot designers when I attended the 'Fashion Reinvented' exhibition with the Newsmakers Unplugged TV crew under executive producers Kassandra Kassim and Frank Nelwan.
On hand to welcome us was Catherine Louis Nikita, curator and director of Evagoras Lanitis Centre where 'Reinvented Histories---From Tradition to Contemporary Fashion' was held. The historic building was once the carob mill and laid the foundation for the fortune of Evagoras and his wife Kathleen Lanitis.
The Lanitis family remains one of the richest in Cyprus and own the superb 5-star Amathus hotel and the soon to be completed Limassol Marina which will increase their fortune by more millions! But they donate extensively to charity!
Said Catherine Nikita, "This exhibition is in collaboration of the Association of Fashion Designers of Cyprus and Cyprus Folk Art Museum and curated by Andreas Antoniou with 15 participants. It is one of the most fascinating exhibitions staged by leading Cypriot designers to show the world what we can do!"
I assumed the 'baju' would be folkloric, ethnic and traditional but they were all of these yet given a contemporary touch! As a result, they are completely at home in Cyprus and London, Paris and New York.
Indeed some of the 14 Cypriot designers trained, worked and exhibited their works there. Others continue to sell their collections in European capitals which explain their prices!
I particularly like the trio of white men's jackets by Marina Nicolaidou. Each white on white suit of jacket, vest, shirt and trousers was a vision of exquisite simplicity and style. Not basic at all but the details appeared both discreet, barely discernible yet packed a punch!
Most featured handmade, padded patches half the size of a cigarette box which acted as buttons as Marina Nicolaidou told me she disliked the common buttons! Of course she still used them but well hidden and not externally as in our usual shirt buttons.
Alas, just the jacket alone cost RM 4,000! Or 1,000 euros! I contemplated stealing them off the dummies but Jesus forestalled me by showing me a vision of Hell and me in boiling oil. However I will show the photos to a Malaysian designer who can probably tailor them up for me for next to nothing!
Those who desire to buy the genuine article pray contact Marina Nicolaidou at ne_ne@marinanicolaidou.com or visit www.marinanicolaidou.com or call her this instant at +357 22 763323.
By the way, I informed Marina Nicolaidou
ne_ne means 'boobs' in Hokkien. Grinned the designer, "Really? What a coincidence! It 'Ne Ne ' means the same thing in French! When I showed in Paris, the media thought I was being naughty! I didn't know, honest! I just like the name 'Ne Ne'!"
I am also taken by the wedding costumes cirac 2013 by Mastori Motwary featuring, of all things, elephants! I think I look better in the female blouson than the groom's jacket.
This is the advantage of having a slim, musle-less body! You get to wear everything!
Another Cypriot designer who impressed me was Kika Ioannidou who presented outfits for a trendy mum and daughter. She wore a similar blouse with a dolly face and of course she almost fainted (like all Cypriots who had never seen the likes of me on their little sunny island) when she saw my shirt and pants and bag and shoes with my portraits handpainted on them!
I told Kika she could only go international if she amended her name to 'Keeka' in my honour and she agreed. I also said 'Kika' sounds like the name of a parrot, hamster or panda.
Names are so important and the 5th greatest name ever created after Buddha, Kuanyin, Jesus and Mary is Kee Hua Chee.
Amen.
Kika Ioannidou with matching blouse. Of course my shirt floored her as it featured a portrait of myself!
Kika Ioannidou with her funky designs
Kika Ioannidou
Trendy kid
Cool mum
Hot mum
Designer Marina Nicolaidou of Ne-Ne with Newsmakers Unplugged host Henry Golding who is half-Iban Sarawakian and half mat salleh
This gorgeous jacket features an unusual padded, soft appendage as designer Marina Nicolaidou hates normal buttons! Alas, it costs RM 4,000 or 1,000 euros! It's male couture OK!
When opened, it shows a shirt with plunging neckline to show off a manly chest, with or without hair! Note the interesting pants
I love this ensemble by Marina Nicolaidou
Marina Nicolaidou with 3 stunning suits for men or even women
The subtle details were ravishing!
Normally, white suits bore me but this was an exception
I love the puffed collar cum lapel
Interesting jacket with exaggerated flaps that are pockets
This pyjama inspired suit came with its own teddy bear! By Eleni Gircalli
Love that clock!
This ensemble is too good to sleep in!
This is my favourite post-2013 bridal jacket! By Mastori Motwary which sounds like both Japanese and Indian but she is Cypriot!
I can see myself in this! Note the elephant!
The velvety cum corduroy texture of the fabric is very glam and I love the silk cords wrapped round waist as belt
The fringes are so cool too
Backview. Now the elephant is more obvious
This is the matching male version but I prefer the blouson than this vest. By Mastori Motwary Studio
The neck ornament is exceptional
Groom in a trance
Backview of male outfit by Mastory Motwary
Famous and gorgeous Cypriot actress Alexia Paraskeva with my favorite costumes by Mastori Motwary Studio
I thought Alexia Paraskeva and Henry Golding made a perfect pair so I proposed they should get married and wear these modernist Cypriot wedding costumes
Alexia and Henry look bit similar and could be cousins so they should marry and produce actors and models
Joanna Louca
Joanna Louca
Backview of Joanna Louca's ensemble
Joanna Louca
Erotokristos
Erotokristos
Tita Stylianou
Tita Stylianou
Afroditi Hera
Afroditi Hera
Afroditi Hera
I love these curly toed slippers!
Classy blacktie jacket by Kristos Avraam
I love the embroidered thistles on the back! By Kristos Avraam
Even an eagle looks great in this as we are all birds of the same feather
This lovely veiled number by Elena Strongyliotou is the perfect match
Tota Patsalidou
The cut-outs are quite heavy so the skirt hangs well
Elena Strongyliotou
Pantelis Pantelli
Pantelis Pantelli
Pantelis Pantelli
Antonia Chambi
Antonia Chambi
Funky furry ball necklace
Can be worn at the back
Birdy autumnal necklace by Kika Ioannidou
I love this wheat necklace, what a symbol of fertility
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