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Turkey is the first stop, with opulently embroidered silk and cotton voile
tops in rich tones of sand and coral, draping asymmetrically across the
torso and carefully embellished with fringes and glass beads. The studded
leather skirts are to die for, while the dressy business suits usher Constantinople
into the modern age. Crimson is seized upon as the fuel for the Indian
sequence, which in addition to the popping colour, is enlivened with silver
sequins and dramatic reconfigurations of the sari. Thê-Anh is not
content in letting China be pink and delicate; his fierce white top with
slit sleeves and razor-sharp cuts mixes it up. POW keeps up with the Canadian
trend of the Byzantine, while using the same busy chinoiserie fabrics
that are gracing the European catwalks this season.
The use of diagonal
accessories as third party styling is what unifies the collection. Although
this strategy seems somewhat formulaic, it works. Remember, Thê-Anh
is no stranger to the business of fashion, his design background including
stints with the Parasuco and Irving Samuel labels. It is no surprise that
POW opened a slew of accounts in the U.S. last April after debuting at
the Dallas mega-trade show International Apparel Mart, a major gateway
to the West Coast markets. It's only a matter of time, focus and working
with sponsors without succumbing to them, before Thê-Anh will be
competing with European chinoiserie for the bragging rights of dressing
not only LA's, but also the world's finest.
Daniel Cox
Fashion Editor
Marek Wlazlo
Photographer
RELATED
ARTICLES: MONTREAL
FASHION WEEK SPRING/SUMMER 2003
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