A Celebration of the Romanian Rituals of Spring
through Outstanding Design
The Romanian Cultural Institute in
New York launches the Romanian Fashion Showcase to be organized every year in the world’s fashion capital. The event, open to the
general public and the industry insiders alike, will take place as a Runway
Fashion Show and a Designer Corner exhibition on our premises at 200 East 38th Street (at 3d
Avenue), Friday, March 6, 2020, starting at 6:30 pm.
In order to herald the end of winter and a new beginning, the Romanian Fashion Showcase 2020 celebrates the perennial Romanian spring tradition of Mărţişor (mərt͡siˈʃor) through outstanding fashion, featuring themed creations by top three Romanian designers: Alexandra Popescu York, DeCorina Hats and Maressia.
The fashion show highlights the creativity and sustainability of Romanian fashion design as well as the contemporary relevance of Romanian traditions, reimagined in a cutting-edge interpretation. All three collections project elegance and glamour through original cuts and a burst of bold colors, and by incorporating handcrafting techniques and symbols derived from the Romanian age-old folk traditions.
All participants will receive the
traditional Romanian lucky charm Mărţişor,
to bring them good fortune and health throughout the year.
For general public access - please RSVP before March 4, 2020.
***
Featured designers
Alexandra Popescu York - The Romanian-born, New York-based designer has built a bridge between fashion and art and turned it into a recognized trademark uniquely of her own. Alexandra Popescu-York had over 20 runway shows at New York Fashion Week in the last 8 years. She specialized in couture and luxury dresses and she just launched a new ready-to-wear line for men and women that is currently sold at a prestigious store in Soho, New York. Alexandra’s creations were published in Vogue and a lot of celebrities and influencers are waiting in line to wear her collections. More about Alexandra Popescu York.
DeCorina Hats - Corina Leca is the founder and main designer of DeCorina Hats, making outstanding hats, designed for special occasions and everyday wear, but meant to create a lasting impression. The hats are manufactured in one of the most sophisticated workshops in Europe where many of the sewing machines are over 150 years old or at least replicas of the machines used in the Victorian era. “Hats are only for authentic people. If the hat is not an extension of your personality, then better not wear it” states the designer’s own credo. More about De Corina Hats.
Maressia is the brand founded by Alina Marica, which focuses on traditional embroidery. The original technique is based on the so-called Maressia point, a star point inspired by the Romanian traditional cross-stitch yet more complex and sophisticated, which brings it to a new level of artistry. Maressia brand takes its inspiration from traditional textile techniques and reinvents them through stylization, leading to creations that are unique, original, and representative to a Romanian style. More about Maressia.
MĂRŢISOR (mərt͡siˈʃor) – or "little March" is considered a lucky charm (two red and white braided strings) related to ritual celebrations of the beginning of spring and the revival of nature in the Romanian folk tradition. Included in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Mărțișor nowadays has become more of a symbol of friendship, love, appreciation, and respect. Traditionally, it is believed that by offering this talisman to somebody that person will be strong and healthy throughout the entire year. In the old days, both women and men wore it pinned to their clothes, close to their hearts, until the last day of March when they would tie it to a fruit-tree twig.
