ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE
Article Prepared by MICHAEL FOUST, PHOTO-JOURNALIST, DE MODE (PARIS, FRANCE)
Published on: 28TH JAN 2023 | www.demodemagazine.com
The Lukas Awards 2019 are a very special and unique award ceremony celebrating the achievements of artists in Fashion, Music, Sports, and the Arts within Europe and the UK. I had the privilege and honor of covering this event for the International Couture Fashion Designer originally from Cuba; Mrs. Odalys Marino. Her incredible work and story are something that is not only powerful for women and immigrants everywhere but has a sustaining impact on the Latin influences present in the couture world. I first met Mrs. Marino in Paris at Paris Fashion Week Studio for the SS20 collection season. This is a part of the greater Paris Fashion Week season, it provides a showcase of International Couture, Haute Couture, and Avant Guarde Fashion at the Ritz in Paris. This event has shown that Mrs. Marino not only holds her own in the Latin American fashion scene but is making her brand well-known and impacting international couture fashion. Her dresses are very influenced by her growing up in a household where her mother had created dresses for her when she was growing up. This strong and emotional bond with her husband, Stephen of 16 years, her family growing up, and Cuban fashion, has driven her to create elegant and classy couture. The old ways of making garments and new ways of designing have merged perfectly, creating movement and flow in her designs. These same strong family influences, inspiration, bonds, and also family business involvement are also present in many of the up-and-coming designers now; showing that heart and love is something that is valued and creates some beautiful works. Her dresses are very elegant, have beautiful handmade details, and have a Latin flow that makes whoever is wearing them; bring out the queen in them as she states. The dresses are also made for movement, which is very important in her pieces, as most celebrations have dance and music in the Latin couture. This is essential to her pieces, and this quality is very evident on the runway and in the editorials of her couture. Her achievements in both the United States, Paris, and London reflect that this fashion designer is making her brand and mark in the International Couture, and Haute Couture community.
Odalys Marino on her award and achievement at the Lukas Awards at The Bloomsbury Ballroom in London:
‘My thoughts on the award and my accomplishments I want to say thank god for giving me the skills to succeed. To my mother and father for instilling in me the courage to follow my dreams. This prestigious award from LUKAS is a dream come true, this is the remainder of my hard work and determination, so far. To never stop my desire to create and from my first collection, I have the creativity to make my next gown better than the last. My next project is the World Top Model competition in Monte Carlo in December; I am creating 20 spectacular gowns for the world's top models. In my mind, I am always creating my next masterpiece, like artisans of the past, to constantly Create, not to follow the road most traveled in fashion, but to dress a lady and make her feel like a queen. The green/ black brocade gown, which was named “dance the night away” was inspired by the elegance of a lady, with comfort to dancing the night away at a ball. By using feathers we need to be reminded that fashion can be creative and exciting without causing a negative impact on the flora and fauna and the environment. Always remember your past and where to come from, if a door is slammed on you, to have to say thank you and move forward, always moving forward.’
