Andrea Brocca is a 24 year old half-Italian, half-Sri Lankan and Emirati-raised couturier and artist. Growing up in Dubai, Brocca began designing at the ripe age of 13 years old and at 16 launched his own couture house, granting him the title as the youngest couturier in the world by The Guinness Book of World Records. His extensive résumé is impressive, citing design work for Alice Temperley, Prabal Gurung, Ellery and Bottega Veneta and extensive couture training at École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. But before all of his impressive accolades, Andrea was simply a young boy inspired by his mother’s elegance. He observed her as she transformed herself for the day, using the items in a closet that seemed so filled with possibilities. Her love of high-end fashion, particularly Chanel, enchanted him which led him to analyse her wardrobe more closely and gain an understanding of what it means to produce and procure better quality fabrics, jewellery and perfumes. For his final collection at Central Saint Martins, entitled SENAYAKE, Andrea used his signature Renaissance-era silhouettes that incorporate intricate corsetry, crinolines and curved pleating as an homage to his mother’s ‘dual-identity’ and opulence. The designs are a recreation of who Brocca imagines his mother to have been in the 1980s, a woman who is different to the one he calls his mother but is still a part of her. It is a question of exploring who she might have been at that time, a fabulous socialite with savviness, beauty and elegance. Accentuating both his Middle Eastern heritage and European high glamour from the 80s, his collection uses traditional couture fabrics in a contemporary forms that engage in dissecting the genderless and fragmented modern identity through the prism of Renaissance era religious, mythological and sexual symbolism.
Kristin Wertz, BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism
@kristin.wertz
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I've been deeply immersed in the fashion industry for years, staying updated on designers, trends, and the intersection of fashion with marketing and culture. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article:
BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Marketing
This refers to a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree program that combines the creative aspects of fashion design with the strategic elements of marketing within the fashion industry. Students learn the fundamentals of design, pattern-making, garment construction, alongside marketing strategies specific to the fashion world. It's a comprehensive curriculum preparing individuals for diverse roles in the fashion business, merging creativity with commercial awareness.
Andrea Brocca
He's a prominent couturier and artist known for his exceptional talent showcased through his couture house. Brocca's journey is fascinating—he started designing at a remarkably young age and gained recognition as the world's youngest couturier. His résumé boasts collaborations with renowned fashion names like Alice Temperley, Prabal Gurung, Ellery, and Bottega Veneta, indicating his extensive experience and expertise.
Background and Inspiration
Andrea Brocca's upbringing in Dubai and his multicultural heritage—half-Italian, half-Sri Lankan, and Emirati-raised—play significant roles in shaping his design aesthetic. His mother's influence, particularly her love for high-end fashion, especially Chanel, sparked his interest in fashion and craftsmanship. This led him to deeply analyze and understand the essence of quality fabrics, jewelry, and perfumes.
Design Style and Collection
Brocca's design style reflects a fusion of Renaissance-era silhouettes with intricate details such as corsetry, crinolines, and curved pleating. His final collection at Central Saint Martins, named SENAYAKE, pays homage to his mother's 'dual-identity' and opulence, recreating his perception of her in the 1980s. He aims to explore who she might have been during that period, envisioning her as a fabulous socialite with sophistication and elegance.
Influences and Symbolism
His collection intertwines his Middle Eastern heritage with European high glamour from the 1980s, utilizing traditional couture fabrics in contemporary forms. Brocca's designs delve into dissecting the genderless and fragmented modern identity through the lens of Renaissance-era religious, mythological, and sexual symbolism.
And that comprehensive understanding of the intersections between heritage, cultural influences, design elements, and symbolic storytelling makes Brocca's work truly fascinating and multi-dimensional.
