Organizers of Italian Day on the Drive are celebrating the important role of style in a culture that appreciates quality.
From food to fashion, Italy values the best of the best, and Italian Day will showcase one of Vancouver’s best designers, RozeMerie Cuevas. Her sophisticated summer collection from her line, called JAC by Jacqueline Conoir, features airy boho pieces that capture the freedom and flow of the season.
“Since it was known that we use Italian fabrics, the organizers invited us to do the show,” Cuevas wrote via email while away in China.
The massive daylong event that draws thousands to Commercial Drive has included a fashion show since 2010, the year the Italian Day Festival Society resurrected the al fresco celebration.
Italy is one of the leading countries in fashion design. Fashion has long been an important part of the country's cultural life and society, and Italians are known for their attention to dressing well; "la bella figura,” or good impression, remains a tradition, explains Italian Day fashion show organizer Irena Demarco.
For her part, Cuevas is no stranger to European culture. She graduated from Esmod in Paris at age 22 and opened her first boutique on South Granville in 1986. Today, her flagship store is located at 164 W. Fifth Ave.
Cuevas routinely travels overseas on the hunt for inspiration in the epicenters of high style.
She is a true local fashion success story, maintaining her clothing line, named after her mother who passed away when she was five, for three decades.
“Hard work, staying focused, believing in myself, being surrounded by supportive family and friends, and having passion for what I do has definitely helped in the success,” Cuevas wrote, summing up her winning line, which is seen regularly on fashion TV, feature films and red carpets.
Models at Sunday’s fashion show will step out in footwear from Commercial Drive’s Italian specialty shop Kalena’s Shoes. The family run business is a staple in the vibrant neighbourhood.
Italian fashion designer Rocco Adriano Galluccio’s line Alcoolique will also take the stage on Sunday. The designer with Neapolitan roots was a hit at this spring’s Vancouver Fashion Week and has been featured in Italian Vogue and Elle. The Italian Day fashion show will include the summer line from his edgy, colourful brand. The show will be held at the Second Avenue Main Stage on Sunday, June 14 at 6pm.
Q&A with RozeMerie Cuevas
Your company, Jacqueline Conoir, is named after your mother who passed away when you were just five. Have your memories of her, or her legacy, influenced your work?
There are very few memories but what I do know is that her presence is around me all the time, so when things get tough, I know somehow she guides me through the challenge. As far as the design, well, her era was the ’50s and this was a time of class and elegance; JAC is filled with class and elegance with a modern edgy twist.
You seem to be constantly travelling – how does all of that time overseas influence your work, your aesthetic, your views on style and fashion?
Travel is the most important contributor to staying in tune with what is going on in fashion all over the world. It’s for this reason that I travel as much as I can.
How does the European influence take shape in your designs?
I use the French “feminine flare,” the Italian “sexy” and combine it with the North American “cool” to get the JAC by Jacqueline Conoir signature.
The spring/summer 2015 collections are lovely – I’m crazy about the midnight blue blouse, in particular. What inspired the collections?
Inspiration for the collection came from my trip to France and Italy.
Besides your own line, are there any other Vancouver designers you like? How about around the globe?
Locally, I like Jason Malto, in Italy I like Patrizia Pepe, and in France I like Zadig and Voltaire.
Five clothing items every woman needs in her closet?
A great T-shirt and great pair of jeans, the perfect black jacket, little black dress and a pair of boy pants.
