Following success of its Autumn/Winter 2011 edition, Runway Malta is back this Saturday, 10 March, for the spring/summer season.

Showcasing a collection of designers from all over the world, the event is a collaboration of fashion, art, design and a launch-pad for new local designers wanting to make it abroad.

Set against a backdrop of Maltese landscape at Montekirsto Estate and being held between 5pm and midnight, Runway Malta is the only full night international fashion event on the island.

For a night, the venue will be transformed into a catwalk theatre, exhibition hall, entertainment area and dance floor. The night is divided into hourly shows in the giant auditorium, while local businesses and labels put on exhibitions, installations, competitions and presentations in the entrance hall in between shows.

“Last season was kind of a trial, so to speak. We didn’t know how the venue was going to work and weren’t sure about the layout of things. And we weren´t even sure the public would be into an entire day/night of shows like abroad, so it was all a bit of guessing going on. However, after getting the feedback and realising what we can achieve, we have not stopped at anything to bring the very best this time around,” comments organiser Shideh Olafsson.

This season, the line-up is huge. The grand master of latex and rubber, high end designer William Wilde from the UK (who designed Rihanna’s S&M Video outfits) will be showing as the big finale at the end of the night. His collections are not only controversial, but have a great sense of rock n roll and femininity to them as well. His other accolades have included designing for Daisy Lowe, Paloma Faith and Tori Amos.

The second international designer is from far away and making a special trip to Malta specifically for this season´s Runway. New Zealand designer, Turet Knuerfermann (tk store) has been at the top of the industry for years. Mention her name in New Zealand or Australia and people instantly think of high-end design, luxurious fabrics and one of the most successful young designers to ever come out of that part of the world.

¨This is a very big deal for me, personally. Being a New Zealander, I am totally honoured that someone this talented would choose to join our catwalk in Malta and show the Maltese how design is done in Australasia as opposed to in Europe,” Olafsson adds.

Last but definitely not least, the third international to join the bill is young menswear designer, Marius Op t´ Eynde – which translates to “Marius Until The End”. He is young but has a host of awards under his belt from the Netherlands and Belgium. Not only that, but he has just completed an internship at Alexander McQueen which taught him the most important fundamentals of extraordinary fashion design.

Alongside these very talented independent designers will also be world high-end high-street heavyweight, French Connection UK. French Connection has always had a reputation of being young and fresh and always appealing to the new generation of fashionistas. For this reason, it is important to showcase them next to the more alternative labels.

“It is one thing to bring fresh new designers to the catwalk,” says Runway organiser Alison Gauci, “but it´s also very important to pay homage to the long-lasting labels who have kept the wheel turning. FCUK has the respect and reputation that we were after for a global brand so we are excited about having them on the Runway catwalk.”

Runway Malta, hand in hand with Valletta 2018, has also put together a New Designer´s Competition to entice young designers.

Valletta 2018 is a project to enrich Malta´s cultural activities and enhance the many areas of art within the Maltese community. Becoming a candidate for the European Capital of Culture for 2018 has opened the door to Valletta´s cultural hub and has allowed for artistic relationships to be built between Malta and other European cities.

Because of this, V18 and Runway Malta came up with a fantastic way to team up with another candidate city – Maastricht in the Netherlands – to give a Maltese designer an opportunity to show at the inaugural Fashionclash Maastricht Festival held in June.

Applications are open to any new designer in Malta to come up with three outfits using any material they like. It does not have to be traditional fashion, but can incorporate metals, textiles, plastic or any other material to create a form of wearable art. From all of the applications received, the judges will then pick five finalists to show on the catwalk at Runway Malta. One winner is chosen and will go on an all-expense paid trip to show their full collection at Fashionclash Maastricht in June 2012.Following success of its Autumn/Winter 2011 edition, Runway Malta is back this Saturday, 10 March, for the spring/summer season.

Showcasing a collection of designers from all over the world, the event is a collaboration of fashion, art, design and a launch-pad for new local designers wanting to make it abroad.

Set against a backdrop of Maltese landscape at Montekirsto Estate and being held between 5pm and midnight, Runway Malta is the only full night international fashion event on the island.

For a night, the venue will be transformed into a catwalk theatre, exhibition hall, entertainment area and dance floor. The night is divided into hourly shows in the giant auditorium, while local businesses and labels put on exhibitions, installations, competitions and presentations in the entrance hall in between shows.

“Last season was kind of a trial, so to speak. We didn’t know how the venue was going to work and weren’t sure about the layout of things. And we weren´t even sure the public would be into an entire day/night of shows like abroad, so it was all a bit of guessing going on. However, after getting the feedback and realising what we can achieve, we have not stopped at anything to bring the very best this time around,” comments organiser Shideh Olafsson.

This season, the line-up is huge. The grand master of latex and rubber, high end designer William Wilde from the UK (who designed Rihanna’s S&M Video outfits) will be showing as the big finale at the end of the night. His collections are not only controversial, but have a great sense of rock n roll and femininity to them as well. His other accolades have included designing for Daisy Lowe, Paloma Faith and Tori Amos.

The second international designer is from far away and making a special trip to Malta specifically for this season´s Runway. New Zealand designer, Turet Knuerfermann (tk store) has been at the top of the industry for years. Mention her name in New Zealand or Australia and people instantly think of high-end design, luxurious fabrics and one of the most successful young designers to ever come out of that part of the world.

¨This is a very big deal for me, personally. Being a New Zealander, I am totally honoured that someone this talented would choose to join our catwalk in Malta and show the Maltese how design is done in Australasia as opposed to in Europe,” Olafsson adds.

Last but definitely not least, the third international to join the bill is young menswear designer, Marius Op t´ Eynde – which translates to “Marius Until The End”. He is young but has a host of awards under his belt from the Netherlands and Belgium. Not only that, but he has just completed an internship at Alexander McQueen which taught him the most important fundamentals of extraordinary fashion design.

Alongside these very talented independent designers will also be world high-end high-street heavyweight, French Connection UK. French Connection has always had a reputation of being young and fresh and always appealing to the new generation of fashionistas. For this reason, it is important to showcase them next to the more alternative labels.

“It is one thing to bring fresh new designers to the catwalk,” says Runway organiser Alison Gauci, “but it´s also very important to pay homage to the long-lasting labels who have kept the wheel turning. FCUK has the respect and reputation that we were after for a global brand so we are excited about having them on the Runway catwalk.”

Runway Malta, hand in hand with Valletta 2018, has also put together a New Designer´s Competition to entice young designers.

Valletta 2018 is a project to enrich Malta´s cultural activities and enhance the many areas of art within the Maltese community. Becoming a candidate for the European Capital of Culture for 2018 has opened the door to Valletta´s cultural hub and has allowed for artistic relationships to be built between Malta and other European cities.

Because of this, V18 and Runway Malta came up with a fantastic way to team up with another candidate city – Maastricht in the Netherlands – to give a Maltese designer an opportunity to show at the inaugural Fashionclash Maastricht Festival held in June.

Applications are open to any new designer in Malta to come up with three outfits using any material they like. It does not have to be traditional fashion, but can incorporate metals, textiles, plastic or any other material to create a form of wearable art. From all of the applications received, the judges will then pick five finalists to show on the catwalk at Runway Malta. One winner is chosen and will go on an all-expense paid trip to show their full collection at Fashionclash Maastricht in June 2012.