Courtesy of: The Morning News
By: Rosalie Klein
The second addition of the island’s signature fashion week, Aruba in Style (AIS) began Thursday evening with an elegant welcome for more than 40 International press members, models and the 13 designers whose work were on display over the weekend.
All those attending were personally welcomed by Aruba’s Minister of Tourism, Transport & Labor, Otmar Oduber, and Chief Marketing Officer of the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA,) Sanju Luidens. ATA CEO Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes was suitably dressed to the nines for the fashionable event.
AIS founders Damilice Mansur, Ronchi de Cuba and Eva Wever conducted four days that spectacularly showcased not only the collections for next Spring/Summer of the most famous names in designer resort and swimwear, but Aruba’s luxurious locations, such as the Renaissance pool deck and Divi Phoenix resort, as the backdrops for the fashion shows. Saturday evening was a parade of swim and beachwear by Aqua di Lara, Poko Pano, Agua Bendita and Charlotte Ronson.
The first collection unveiled was that of local designer Berjheny Del Mar, now based out of Manhattan. Friday night the Dutch and Aruban Group show, featuring the creations of Allen Vos and Edwin Oudshoorn of Holland and Elisa Lejuez and Gigliola Designs of Aruba, along with Caffe Swimwear of Colombia. Popular designer Eva Zissu of Venezuela created a special line of fun and funky flip flops inspired by her adoration of the island, which she has named “Arubianas,”- “One Happy Flip-Flops.”
Saturday night Tierra Del Sol hosted the “International Swim Show and Soiree,” with a fashion show by Aqua Bendita of Colombia, Aqua di Lara collection by Reyhan Sofraci of Canada and Poko Pano from Brazil followed by British designer Charlotte Ronson, now out of NY, one of the most sought after American women’s wear designers today.
