The Designs of Osmany Laffita
Text by Jo Ross
Photography courtesy of Osmany Laffita

We are pleased to report that the up and coming designer, Osmany Laffita, featured in our fashion trend report in our Winter 2002/03 issue, has now been internationally acclaimed with numerous awards and successes.

As you may have read, while at the Fashion Designer Shows, we see the trends that trickle down into all markets, mainly created by the established couture collections. These trends affect all areas of the market, including bridal fabrics, details, silhouettes, and trimmings. Sometimes, there is a standout in the new designers, one who truly brings fresh and exciting ideas to the arena. That was what we saw in the Taiza collection by Osmany Laffitta last September when he premiered his designs in New York at Fashion Week. Since that time, he has continued to add zest and beauty to fashion by premiering numerous collections all over the world.

At the early age of fifteen, Osmany attended the prestigious San Alejandro Art Academy in Havana, Cuba. He then became an editor for a Cuban fashion magazine; as he published his drawings and design ideas, he gained many fans amongst his readers. At twenty-two he moved to the Czech Republic, and then moved on to design at Versace and Kenzo. In 1999, he became the in-house designer of the French-Czech couture house of Taiza. He has most recently launched his own brand bearing his own name and has clients such as Ivanna Trump and Mrs. Havel, the former first lady of the Czech Republic. In 2002 Osmany was awarded the "Designer's Choice Award" by the prestigious magazine Vogue.

As you shop for your bridal gown, watch for the influence of this talented new star. His look intertwines Caribbean warmth, Czech preciseness, and Parisian elegance. The Osmany Laffita flagship store will open in Prague in late 2003 and will be followed by a network of stores throughout the United States, Russia, and Latin America.