RIYADH: Local and international visitors will attend a live masterclass with renowned fashion designer Zac Posen on gown draping techniques, the intricacies of the fashion industry and the process of launching a luxury brand, in Jax District, Diriyah, Riyadh. Participated.
The two-hour masterclass also covered the practical aspects of design. Dressing a mannequin in bright red cloth using only scissors and pins and starting the technique from the neck, Posen took questions from the audience.
“It’s all about purpose … Whether[the gown]is about exaggeration or glamour, for me, no matter how big it is, it has to be wearable,” he said.
“You can always stay in the work. Sometimes you run out of time, but that’s the answer… There are moments when you improvise and know you’re ready. You’ll feel it.”
I believe my journey and purpose is to show everyone else what can be expressed through creativity.
Zac Posen
Known for creating iconic red carpet looks for A-list celebrities, Posen is the son of American painter Stephen Posen, so his artistry runs in the family.
His journey began when Posen found himself spending hours backstage at his high school’s costume store seeking fashion.
“I think my journey and purpose is to show everyone else what can be expressed through creativity,” he said in a masterclass.
Surrounded by British models such as Karen Elson, Erin O’Connor and Jade Parfitt on the New York fashion scene in 1996, Posen described it as a formative period.
“There’s been a new wind in fashion. Especially in France and Europe, where fashion technology is very high, creativity, expressiveness, and a new romantic movement are in vogue,” said the designer.
His ‘life-changing’ experience as an intern at the Costume Institute at the age of 16 was the first time he had a deeper understanding of the intricacies of clothing design and its historical significance.
“I grew up in a home where art was not decoration. he said.
After spending a summer at Parsons New School for Design, in the bustle of New York’s Garment District, he began developing his own design style, experimenting with creating evening wear for his female friends. rice field.
In the late 1990s, immersed in the city’s expressive underground drag queen culture, he traveled to London to attend Central Saint Martins Art School.
“Because of the competition, you can’t leave your clothes or the things you’re working on on the table. They disappear, they get chopped up, they put them in the trash. They had to be locked up or taken home,” he said. I was.
It was during his early years in London that Posen met Italian actress and style icon Anita Pallenberg.
Two years into fashion school, Posen’s story began with his designs and established a client base in London.
One of his designs caught the eye of renowned model Naomi Campbell, who saw a dress worn by a friend of Posen’s on the Eurostar and decided to meet the designer.
“She was incredibly kind and caring and asked me to make her clothes and gave me money to buy fabrics. We took her measurements…I made her clothes.” When I started working on it, the topic was growing.Then, a New York Times writer called me and said, “I want to write an article about this dress, you, and the journey of this dress.”
“I knew it could go either way, and I also thought the opportunity wouldn’t last very long. Let’s try this,” he said.
The interview was successful and attracted attention from Barney’s, Fashion TV and the Victoria and Albert Museum, which now exhibits many of his designs as part of its permanent collection.
He then moved back to New York, started an atelier in his parents’ living room, and invested $10,000 in savings in the brand.
He then created a capsule collection as part of GenArt’s Fresh Faces in Fashion New York 2001 show.
He is known for his feminine designs that emphasize body structure in a way that reflects the fluidity and softness of movement.
According to Posen, one of his greatest moments was when actress Natalie Portman wore one of his designs at the premiere of “Star Wars Episode I” after her first fashion show.
When the tragic events of 9/11 engulfed New York City residents, he felt his hometown needed him to help him through a difficult time.
“Creativity, expression is what brings the city back to life. We need it. I’m not going back to London, it won’t happen, I feel really strongly this resilient force that I needed to be there.” he said.
Other highlights of his design career include dressing up notable figures and actresses such as Princess Eugenie of York, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes.
“Being a creator is not always an easy road, but it can be a very rewarding job. And sometimes those moments add to the cultural narrative,” he said.
In an era of media and digital evolution, designers believe that fashion is evolving faster than ever and can become a tool that transcends cultural boundaries.