Designer Gabriella Cortese revives almost forgotten textile processing techniques from around the world and gives them a new life in modern fashion.
Gabriella Cortese - creator of the ethnoglamor style
BURDA magazine correspondent Carolina Vanke visiting Gabriella Cortese (right) in Paris.
Gabriella was born in Turin in 1965 in the family of a wealthy Italian and Hungarian, studied in Paris, moonlighting as a Crazy Horse variety show dancer, and then embarked on a long and fascinating journey along the ancient Silk Road. Once in Bali, Gabriella was shocked by the local batik technique and, upon returning to Paris, created her first collection Antik batikwhich used handmade fabrics and accessories brought from distant wanderings. Over time, models from textiles were supplemented by original shoes and accessories of amazing beauty.
Models Antik batik similar to the guidebook: printed silk in the traditions of Bali, hand-made embroidery based on Hungarian motifs, the technique of dyeing fabrics characteristic of India and bright ornaments of the peoples of Peru are used to create modern clothes.
Ethnoglamor style has a lot of admirers. Among them is Carla Bruni, who, even in her youth, appreciated the creations of her friend Gabriella, Vanessa Paradis and Kate Moss.
“In our globalized and fast-paced world, handmade embroidery and prints are of particular value. We yearned for authenticity and humanity,” - says Gabriella.
Today, Antik Batik has 20 ateliers worldwide. Sometimes a designer has to spend days sitting next to his craftswomen and direct the work process to get the desired result. For the readers of our magazine, Gabriella Cortese prepared a special surprise - a tunic pattern made of light chiffon with an amazing pattern resembling tropical thickets (Burda 08 2011, model 142).
Career Stages:
1992 First trip to Tibet and India, the creation of Antik Batik.
2000 The appearance of the line for children.
2005 Creating luxury models for the Cannes Film Festival.
2010 A collection based on Peruvian folklore.
First photo: Dress from the latest Antik Batik collection, the creation of which was inspired by Gabriella Cortese's ancient culture of the peoples of Peru.
Photo: Hannah Had, Bruno Ripos, Martin Bruno.
Material prepared by Elena Karpova
