Citywealth Lifestyle  Back

08 Mar 2010

Fashion couture with Truffle. New collection launches at Hay Hill Gallery

Surrounded by the second largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside the Louvre (Hay Hill Gallery) & sumptuous black truffle canapés Sofia Strazzanti presented key looks from her exclusive bespoke collection. Her service is inspired by the truffle - in the culinary world the haute couture of ingredients; rare, luxurious, delicacy. Take this concept, apply it to fashion and you have a private, bespoke/made-to-order service (not available through shops), reminiscent of Savile Row paired with contemporary, timeless design for women.    

LET THEM EAT CAKE

Let them eat cake was the phrase which inspired a care-free over indulgent collection of calm sophistication and uninhibited buzz. The first story – a breath of fresh air – welcomed a strong wind to soar forward; fabrics snaped and rustled with lightness. Shapes had polished irregularity breezily floating enlacing the body in motion. Fabrics flirted with extreme fineness and modest transparencies peacefully protected by water-repellent treatments. The colour palette favours the honesty of appearances complimenting sensitive yet bold design; the candour of blue was explored from its serene deepness to its azure clarity; powdery silks in mauve, washed black & silver were lit up by the soft reflections of the glossy sequins.

The collection turned to blinding brights with fragmented lines and controlled springiness for the Summer prelude. Energised, exuberant dresses were punctuated with luminosity and delicious acidity. Botanical camouflage in textured silk vivaciously parties with smudged printed satin and marvellously heavy beading.

Sofia’s design aesthetic creates bridges between formal and casual, fluid and structured – she successfully connected the essential to the exceptional.

Founder/Creative Director Profile

Founder & Creative Director’s, Sofia Strazzanti, long line of Italian ancestors - tailors, specialty dressmakers and shoemakers and her strong appreciation of the traditions of Savile Row has deeply inspired the TRUFFLE experience and service. “TRUFFLE is redefining the luxury shopping experience for women. I love the anticipation & patience of waiting for the perfect piece however it's often reserved for men and classic tailoring. I want to feel special in what I wear, like it was designed for me alone. Hence a made-to-order and bespoke concierge shopping service with contemporary day, work and evening outfits ranging from tops to coats.” Sofia also references the golden era of Dior where exclusive private trunk shows and doting personal service were prominent. "Luxury fashion is about making someone feel utterly exclusive; my collection is not available through shops, only direct from me or one my client consultants via private presentations & appointments” says Sofia. TRUFFLE is as exclusive a find as its namesake. 

With seven years experience in the industry and a degree in Marketing Communications Sofia has been very fortunate to have gained varied skills and practice across many disciplines, top and bottom line as well as having a natural self-taught talent for fashion design. These include coordinating general business strategy including operations, marketing, retail and export sales together with performing a product merchandising and planning function within an international fashion label called Criminal. Sofia also runs Innocenza, her fashion sales & manufacturing agency which represents the commercial interests of 3 international designers. The agency keeps her in touch with the wholesale market with established relationships with some of most influential buyers across the country & world including Selfridges, Harrods, Brown Thomas, Harvey Nichols and more commercial businesses including ASOS.

Brand Inspiration
In the culinary world the truffle is recognised by connoisseurs as the ‘haute couture’ of ingredients – rare, luxurious, delicacy. The truffle cannot be cultivated and is hunted with passion in specific areas of the world, unearthed and transformed from a raw material into the second most expensive ingredient in the world. These inspiring facts are explored through all aspects of the business. Discovery forms the foundation of the brand.

Client Design Process
During an event or private presentation Sofia will present the seasonal collection modelled or as per client wishes. Often the client requests a private view whereby we will visit them with the collection at their home, office, hotel suite or wherever desired.

Following the presentation the client will choose which designs are of interest. Using a toile in the client’s size (a toile is a version of the design made in a simple fabric which can be cut/pinned in order to perfect the pattern) we then fit the designs and personalise the fabric and colour combinations to suit their preference.

The design is then made-to-order especially for them, in some cases the fabric is even woven especially for them. Depending on the design it can take 3-4 weeks to make. It’s then delivered to wherever they need. Occasionally if the client needs the outfit for an event but the order cannot be completed in time we offer to lend them the sample if available in their size.

Services
Made-to-Order
From an array of city-chic outfits to glamorous evening designs choose fabric/colour combination & the TRUFFLE creation is made to order especially for you. We will talk through designs, fabrics, colours, trims and inspiration and work with you to create your perfect combination. It’s then produced using the finest craftsman and delivered in 3-4 weeks - enough time to be simply salivating at the prospect of seeing the exclusive Truffle creation.

Made-to-Measure
Each garment can be made-to-measure ensuring a design fits like a glove; we tailor the pattern to fit your shape, size and preference so each stitch is perfectly placed to match every contour or your body. This service usually takes a few weeks extra depending on the number of fittings required and comes with a modest additional fee.

Bespoke
For those occasions where we need to know we will be the only person in the world wearing this outfit! Whether you need a cocktail dress or a top we promise you the highest quality of service, design, materials crafted to your budget, shape & occasion; we will use the finest couture artisans reputable for their superior, beautiful hand-constructed work. We endeavor to work within your time frames as much as possible; depending on the design and number of fittings required we aim to have your completed creation in 8-10 weeks.
 
Concierge
TRUFFLE offers a ‘concierge’ shopping service – perfect for time-poor, stylish discerning women who desire exclusivity, discreet doting personal service, exceptional quality and ultimate convenience. Collections can be seen by private appointment at a location of your choice alone, with friends, with colleagues or at one of our exclusive events. Whichever your preference we always aim to give you a creative, relaxed, unpretentious and discreet service.

Aftercare
We are on hand to assist in any aftercare services required from repairs to alterations to advice on fabric care.

Design Signature
TRUFFLE designs realise a calm sense of elegance and confidence, a timeless effortless appeal, bridging the gap between formal and casual, summer and winter for year round pleasure, connecting the essential to the exceptional.
 
Preferring grace to exuberance, refinement to ostentation, we carefully tend to the richness of detail, form and subtle complexities. When designing fabrics take up space, they are folded, draped with complexity, stitched, deconstructed, stitched again creating displaced seams. The result – hand finished clothing with generosity and subtlety. Designs are marvellously heavy from intricate hand glass beading, or breezily floating, to better enhance and cover a body in motion.
 
With an appreciation for practicality additional breathing room is allowed around the mid-section for those moments of lapsed concentration. Selected fabrics suit the globe trotter – crease resistant, stretch and practical without compromising on luxuriousness. Lively, fun fabrics are also very important to us for the not so sensible moments we often care to indulge in.
 
Colours manipulate the proportions between bright intensity with neutral restraint, inspired by raw states such as woods, metals and accents of vibrant gems.

Artisans
We endeavour to work with the most highly skilled craftsman possible, well recognised within the industry for their attentiveness to detail, lifelong passion for the art of pattern cutting, design creation and experience. Most of our client orders are made in London allowing us to be proactive and responsive to client’s requirements. Embellishment features often in our designs; for this we work with a couture factory in India esteemed for their impeccable skills and work ethic. Our Italian partners provide expertise in Tricot – knitwear with exceptional finishing and longstanding wear.

Our fabrics, yarns and trims are chosen specifically for their superior quality and extraordinary uniqueness. We work with long established, often family run business offering 100% made in England, France or Italy and a continuous legacy of high quality haute couture fabrics. Our fabrics are both pure and mixed qualities including silks, cashmere, merino wool, angora, linen, metal and unusual technical combinations changing seasonally in order to offer new ideas to our clients. We are encouraged to learn increasingly our suppliers are engaging in sustainable development including recycling fibres including wool and technical yarns.

Contact
Sofia Strazzanti
sofia@  truffledesign.com
+44 (0) 7989 414 675
+44 (0) 020 7193 8752
www.truffledesign.com

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