The Magic of Marella

Leading Italian brand Marella recently arrived in Bangkok, launching its brand new store at Siam Paragon with a stylish show of tailored dresses, flattering jackets and mix-and-match separates guaranteed in bold, bright colours that are guaranteed to delight Thai fashionistas.
A member of the House of Max Mara, the brand was born in 1988 in Reggio Emilia and is one of several labels the leading pret-a-porter group has spawned over the years.
Marella has been brought to Thailand by leading retailer Kwang Sia Fashion.
Kanitta Potiwan, assistant brand manager of Max Mara, welcomed Thailand’s fashion icons and celebrities to the launch event by screening a short film presentation detailing the history of the label and revealing how Italy’s fabulous past has inspired the designs.
Marella’s spring and summer 2013 collection offers a riot of colours ranging from inky blues hues to cornflower and light sky blue, natural greens, precious gold, cyclamen, fuchsia and mint green, Fabrics are even more stylish, with tweed brightened up by lurex, super-soft nappa leather for jackets and trousers and waterproof cotton or ultra-light hi-tech fibre overcoats. Kaleidoscopic prints transform floral, paisley and tribal patterns into fancy patterned dresses, tunic blouse, tube shirts and skirts.
The brand opts for a sophisticated and deluxe approach to summer rather than romantic with dresses and trousers in orange and coral red, aquamarine green and sky blue that look fabulous combined with stripy shirts and spot T-shirts. Tribal patterns take over prints, but with a tamer city look. Batik is renewed with hints of fluorescent colour. The icons of the ’70s have inspired the collection, with tapestry print dresses, optical white tailleur-trousers and macro flounce blouses and tube dresses. And for special occasions, there’s a capsule collection of dresses for cocktail parties in both short and long-lengths.
A keynote to the designs for summer is the “Marella and Milla Collection”, the second collaboration between the brand and actress Milla Jovovich. Prints dominate, with macro flowers in bright, strong and vibrant colours and original shapes reinterpreting the patterns with a modern twist. Huge floral shapes merge into black and white graphics on flowing maxi dresses, while metallic stud embellishments are used on monochrome blazers, shorts and Capri pants. Fringes are added to cotton-knitted tops and mini dresses, to wear from morning into the night.
The range is versatile, easy, mixable, feminine yet edgy. Jovovich personally designed one of the collection prints - a little fairy princess with a star wand, a mix of whimsical and innocence that adds a dreamy touch to Marella’s world. The fairy-print is all over the beachwear collection, which includes sarongs, tees and bikinis.
Prints are the protagonists in the Marella Sport Collection too. The classic sailors knot is completely reinterpreted and becomes very sophisticated with a print-all-over effect that decorates the waterproof topcoat, the flowing crepe de Chine dress and the stretch trousers. Lemon yellow blends with the navy patterns on flowing blouses, boxy jackets and tops. Overcoats are updated with precious fabric, such as duchesse satin for the oval blouson.
A special Marella project is the smart jacket, which comes in five colours, and brings together luxury, comfort, practicality and functionality. The crease-proof tailored blazer goes as well with smart business outfits as well as jeans and a tee, is easy to fold into a bag and can be hand washed.
And shopping is a pleasure too, as Marella’s first store is warm and engaging thanks to the skilful blend of classical elements and modern touches, sophisticated furnishing and minimalist display structures.