PRESS RELEASE -- Mutual admiration and shared involvement in humanitarian action led
Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele and
Alberta Ferretti to join forces in a philanthropic project destined for the upcoming
Cannes Film Festival (May 14th to 25th 2008).
The two designers, both of whom have been committed for many years to various charitable endeavours, have pooled their talents in creating a splendid “jeweled-dress” for the benefit gala held by
AmfAR (
American Foundation for Aids Research), scheduled to take place in Cannes on May 22nd 2008.
“I have always admired Alberta’s style and her elegant creations”, said Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele (co-president of
Chopard) in referring to this original form of collaboration. “Indeed, I often choose Ferretti gowns for prestigious evenings. I feel particularly at ease in their precious materials and their impeccable cut that subtly accentuates femininity while lending a peerless and immediately recognizable touch of class. The Ferretti style is a perfect match for my personality. It’s almost as if, in designing her models, Alberta was responding to my own deepest aspirations. We were on the same wavelength when we conceived this refined and sparkling garment. The result shows the full extent to which we share the same sensitivity and the same aesthetic affinities.”
Meanwhile, Alberta Ferretti expressed things in her own way, “I met Caroline at the last edition of the
Venice Film Festival but I had already heard of her and I especially remembered some of her statements quoted by the press, such as ‘We don’t sell dreams, we sell what people dream of”. This sentence suits her perfectly, because it conveys how attuned she is to others and the consideration she displays in her dealings with people.
These are rare qualities in a world chiefly concerned with appearance. Later, when Caroline asked me to design a dress adorned with Chopard jewellery for a charity gala evening, I was both delighted and grateful because it gave me the opportunity to work with her – and on behalf of a noble cause such as amfAR. I knew I was associating with a woman who shared the same passion and enthusiasm and who was engaged in the same battles.”
Worn by an internationally acclaimed star, the jewel dress created by Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele and Alberta Feretti will be unveiled on May 14th to the VIP guests at Chopard’s traditional gala dinner.
A dream dress: Desiderio The shared imagination of these generous-hearted women has thus given rise to a dress in their image, characterized by soft, flowing lines. Exquisitely fashioned from a cloud of lilac silk chiffon and delicately draped over the waist and hips, its neckline highlights a splendid piece of jewellery literally intermingled with the dress itself. Composed of white diamonds along with pink, purple and blue sapphires, pink spinels, “icy” quartz and amethysts, these garlands of briolette-cut stones totalling 2,904.63 carats gracefully blend in with the precious fabric. Two discs entirely set with 209 diamonds and representing a total weight of 22.212 carats clasp the ornament to the front of the dress and in the small of the back, where it is lit up by three cascading rows of multicoloured gems.
Worn by an international celebrity on the steps of the Palais des Festivals for the opening ceremony, the Desiderio dress created by Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele and Alberta Ferretti will be unveiled on May 14th to honoured guests at a gala dinner organised by
Chopard.