A perfect and amazing link between photography and design gives life to the fashion collection "Ocean Art" of Raffaella Schlegel: here the designer gives insight into her passions and experiences. Raffaella was European swimming champion, with a solid back ground in fashion achieved by attending the Istituto Marangoni in Milan. First in South Africa and now in Mexico, she dedicates herself, with h
er partner Dietmar Posch, to scuba diving with sharks focusing in particular on underwater photography. "When I photograph in the water I am guided by passion and feelings. In this way I can “catch the moment and make real art" says with full conviction “The Lady - and friend - of the sharks”. The collection consists of thirty “simple” and timeless pieces, including outfits and accessories, unique in colors and patterns, each one with its own name and unique serial number, each one different from the others, with the only exception of the maxi caftans, which are presented in three different variants. Everything reflects an inspiration with a charm really difficult to match: the enchanted universe of the oceans, their depth, their surface, their coasts, with all the living creatures populating them. Fish, amphibians and mammals are the subjects of the images taken by Raffaella. The images are printed on fabric, with a multitude of effects and variations. Sometimes the subject is clearly identifiable. Sometimes it becomes abstract, and exaggerated in its proportions. Sometimes the focus is on a single and specific detail - such as the scales, gills, or ampoules of Lorenzini (the sensory organs of both sharks and rays) - and the image becomes a purely graphic element. The chromatic palette reflects the richness of the reference world: a kaleidoscope full of hues - light or deep - between blue and bright blue, coral red, natural tones, sand gold, as well as the intense tones of the earth and bush landscape. Everything is eco-friendly, made from a brand new techno-georgette. This reflects Raffaella’s boundless love for nature with its incredible beauty, and to her strong commitment to preserving it. Everything appears to be essential both in the lines and in the mono-size shapes, light and floating like a wave or the sea breeze, with the transparency of the most crystal clear waters. The pieces can be worn over bikinis, over a tank tops and shorts, over sheath dresses, becoming perfect outfits for the hours after the beach, or day looks as well as evening ones. The fabric’s virtual weightlessness is balanced by an extremely thin lightweight piping, that guarantees a perfect aplomb, following the silhouette in total sync with its movements. Almost all pieces can be worn and "interpreted" in many different and free ways: the shorter caftan can become a mini-dress or a blouse to put into the trousers; the pareo can become a stole or an oversize scarf, even for men; the same pareo and the smaller scarf can become a sash to roll up around the waist; the shawl with fringes can cover the shoulders, let fall freely along the arms, knot over the breast or at the hips. Everything is made in Italy what guarantees the accuracy of its origin regarding cuts, design, print and packaging. Each piece is presented in a small bag also made of techno-georgette, in the same colors and with same patterns as the outfit which is inside. It is closed with a seal with the brand's silver logo and completed with a short phrase which tells the name of the look, recalls the pictures inspiration, and explains the place and the moment where and when it was taken. A little as if it were a painting. It is a style to love. Raffaella hopes that it is also a style to understand, with its DNA and its history, it does not end in a "simple" concept of fashion…
