Brazilian stylist Leonardo Chiasso, originally from the state of Rio de Janeiro, in the southeast of Brazil, has won the Arab market with his luxury dresses.
The Brazilian man’s garments can be found next to the great international brands, such as Christian Dior, Dolce Gabbana and Alberta Ferretti in stores in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and Egypt.
“The Arab women want exclusive articles. My product is very much desired by them,” states Chiasso, who started selling to the region three years ago. He had his first contact with importers in the Middle East in a showroom in Italy.
According to the stylist, about 65% of his production is destined to the external market. The Arab countries are his main clients and represent about 40% of international sales. “We want to increase sales to the Middle East even more.”
For such, the stylist will participate for the first time at Motexha, trade fair directed to the fashion sector, which will take place in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, between September 12 and 15.
The Brazilian companies that will go to the exhibit have the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB). “I want to get to know the Arab women,” he says.
The differential in Chiasso’s dresses is the handmade work. “I use my knowledge in architecture to apply to the clothes,” he states. Chiasso is graduated in Architecture by the Architecture and Urbanism School of the University of São Paulo (USP).
According to the stylist, all his articles are handmade. A dress takes about 20 hours to be produced. Depending on the model it may take up to 30 hours. “The Arab women appreciate my handcraft work very much. I have once sold the same dress model five times in different colours to a client in Kuwait,” he states.
The luxury dresses by Chiasso are made with the moullage technique, of three dimensional creation.
“As well as drawing on paper, I do everything on the body, a bust model, and I go dressing the mannequin,” he explains.
He assures that in this way the garment already comes out more structured and better adapts itself to the body. Chiasso learned and developed the technique in Milan.
As well as the Arab countries, he also exports to Italy, Spain, England, Greece, France and United States. After the exhibit in Dubai, the stylist will participate in fairs in France and the United States. Chiasso plans on taking 54 dress models in 13 different colours to show abroad.
Chiasso’s name is amongst the 600 most known stylists in the world, according to the Dutch website www.dressforsuccess.nl. The dresses by the stylist have already come out in fashion magazines like Vogue, Nova, Marie Claire and Al Ostoura (which means ‘The Legend’ in Arabic). The latter is a luxury magazine in Kuwait.
Workshop
Although Chiasso was born in Petrópolis, city in Rio de Janeiro, he lives in São Paulo, where he opened in 1995 a workshop to produce the clothes. The stylist has created and developed styles for the Brazilian brands Alcaçuzz, Diivon and Cleo Aidadar.
Chiasso is not the only Brazilian exporting to the Arab world. In the same list are names like Walter Rodrigues, Amarilis Fernandes and Lino Villaventura. Sales of Brazilian dresses to the Arabs are growing.
Showroom Leonardo Chiasso
Tel. +55 11 3845-0269
www.leonardochiasso.com
Anba – www.anba.com.br
