By Rocio Frausto
Dazzle into a world of jet setting dreams where the heartbeats to the pulse of the island of Capri – a jovial treasure for Hollywood Stars and European Aristocracy. Golden rays of the Mediterranean sun from the island draw luxury yachts amid cove studded coastline where the sea glows exalting blue. Silvia Tcherassi stepped into the spotlight in 1987 debuting collections at both Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks years later. An embodiment of the female spirit inspired by the buoyancy of Latin American Heritage – prêt a porter, swimwear, and handbag collections along Europe and North/South America.
An ethereal figure fades upon the glamorous haze of 1960s with Chrissy Teigen, Olivia Palermo and Jessica Alba adorning Tcherassis collections. A bestowment from Frances highest honors, Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres commemorates Tcherassis trailblazing oeuvre which includes the Mocana Tribe from Usiacuri, Colombia for global market production.
Like the scent of jasmine in the spring, her signature ruffles and dramatic floral prints flow along Cartagena de Indias, the queen of the Caribbean coast debuting her first real estate property in 2009. The 250-year-old restored mansion reignites Tcherassis bohemian sensibility overlooking a vertical garden with over 3000 native plants, four pools, and a roof deck with 360 degree views of World Heritage Site. Chef Daniel Castaño, a Mario Batali protégé, helms the 40-seat coastal restaurant Vera, while the 30 holistic spa treatments conjure a flamboyance in rejuvenation.
A successful debut at Bogota Fashion Week for the Fall 2019 and a Resort collection for 2020 in New York led the transition to Miami Fashion Week. Take us through the design process of collection from the development stage to final execution for this season at Miami Fashion Week?
Resort 2021 is a collection that is very dear to me, as it was entirely created during quarantine at my home in Miami. While this was a particularly difficult time for everyone, the all-around calm and solitude made me experience Coconut Grove in a more profound way than before. Suddenly, the sailboats, seashores and tropical vegetation of my every day surroundings had a renewed and inspiring light to them. As for production, it took countless Zoom meetings and phone calls, but with the help of my outstanding team, we were able to push through. When we showed Resort for the first time earlier this year, I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment and was thrilled to have presented the collection in the same place that had inspired it.
What special anecdotes do you have from participating in Bogota, Mexico and New York Fashion Weeks since debuting in 1987 from Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks?
As many fashion shows as I have been part of throughout the years, I never cease to feel the same sense of excitement that I felt during my earlier ones. I find the whole experience of showcasing my work on the runway incredibly humbling. One particular memory stands out and that is when I became the first Latin American designer to present in the Milano and Paris Fashion Weeks. Not only was I representing my country, Colombia, but also an entire region. I felt very proud about that and I will always treasure those times.
Tcherassi Hotels captures the spirit of timeless casual luxury that distinguishes your fashion collections. What factors determine your aesthetic approach to the design of your hotels? From selecting the furniture to the culinary treasures?
Showing my collections in the top European fashion weeks made me realize that I could be up there with the best of them, and it also got me thinking about where I could grow and branch out. I was looking for different ways to translate my vision beyond fashion. Armani, Versace and Bvlgari started the concept of fashion hotels and it was “tailor made” for me for me because of my studies in interior design and it allowed me to “open the door”, literally and figuratively, to transition my brand from fashion to lifestyle.
The creative process of the first hotel was more experimental, almost a lab test to try to translate my fashion vision to interior design. Being the historic center of Cartagena an UNESCO heritage site, you need to be very respectful. We created some signatures such as vertical gardens, a very original approach to textures and finishes and the perfect selection of design fixtures. There are a lot of fashion touches: We designed hanging lamps using delicate lace, the bed decorative accents were constructed using my brand labels and care labels creating a beautiful texture and the napkins are artistically folded as a blouse, amongst other details. In addition, the rooms were named after my favourite fabrics such as radzimir and mousseline. After the success of the first one (the hotel was selected by Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveller amongst the best in the world) we decided create a second hotel with more rooms (42), more restaurants (2) and other amenities. The hotels were conceived to capture the spirit of effortless elegance that distinguishes my fashion collections. The spaces were created to inspire, to activate memories and to redefine the traditional concept of indoor-outdoors. To achieve it, I collaborated with top architecture firms as EstudioMorfo in the first and with Richard Mishaan in the second one. They translated the essence of my brand and my vision to the spaces in order to create the perfect frame for unforgettable experiences.
Your family members contribute to the driving force of the international success of your company. How would you describe your relationship with those family members? Specifically, how much creative freedom do they have in the creative development of the business?
My family is definitely a driving force behind the brand and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I feel so fortunate that both of my children, Mauricio and Sofia, are as passionate for fashion and design as I am. As a mother, it has been great to witness their professional evolution and personal growth so closely. I love listening to their ideas and input and always take them into consideration when designing.
What are the future plans of your atelier?
The Atelier continues to be that place where my most exuberant ideas come to life. Despite the pandemic, there are still events taking place—if less by the numbers, they are smaller in size and likely outdoors. These gatherings feel more relevant and significant than before and a lot of women want the perfect look to go with it as well—I very much look forward to being part of these cherished moments. Moreover, our private atelier one-on-one services are ideal in this socially distant reality.
Currently, the Tcherassi Hotels brand extension is exploring new possibilities in the hospitality and real estate fields.
