Program
| 19:30 |
Welcome drink |
| 20:00 |
Performance by violin virtuoso Pavel Šporcl |
| |
Performance by opera star and soloist of the National Theatre Andrea Kalivodová |
| |
Great fashion show by Blanka Matragi – premiere of exclusive fashion collection Ready-to-Wear and Couture “Rebirth of the Phoenix” |
| 21:40 |
Conclusion of the gala |
| 21:40 – 24:00 |
Afterparty with Blanka Matragi |
Blanka Matragi
Fashion designer academic painter Blanka Matragi was born in 1953 in Světlé nad Sázavou, Czech Republic.
In 1974 she completed the School of Applied Arts for Glassmaking in Železný Brod.
In 1979 she married to Dr. Ing. Makram Matragi, PhD.
In 1980 she received the degree “academic painter” from the Academy of Arts.
In 1982 she opened her fashion salon „Blanka Haute Couture“ on the main boulevard of Beirut, Hamra.
In 2002, she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her salon in Beirut and for this occasion designed a new collection and organized a fashion show combined with a festive reception.
23 April 2002 Blanka received the European Arts Prize, awarded by European Union Art, in Prague.
30 August 2002 Blanka was in Prague to receive the Salvador Dali International Award and National Award „František Kupka 2002“
3 October 2003 she received the title of Important Czech Woman in the World from the Senate of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
V březnu 2006 vydala v Čechách svou autobiografickou knihu „Blanka Matragi“, která získala cenu „Český Bestseller 2006“.
In autumn 2006 she organized a fashion show and retrospective exhibition on the 25th anniversary of her start at the Municipal House in Prague.
28 November 2008 Blanka received the award „LADY PRO“ from the European Society of Culture.
In September 2011 Blanka Matragi released her second autobiography „Jedu dál“
In October 2011, she organized a fashion show “Haute Couture” and long-term retrospective exhibition of her work entitled „Timeless“ at the Municipal House in Prague on her 30th anniversary
In 2011, she opened her first boutique in Prague with a new collection „Ready to wear“
For 2014 she is preparing a new collection of „Ready to wear“ and the collection „Couture“ - „Rebirth of the Phoenix“ in collaboration with CENTRAL GROUP
The Blanka Matragi story of “The Rebirth of the Phoenix” ...
The Blanka Matragi story of “The Rebirth of the Phoenix”
When the management of CENTRAL GROUP approached me with an offer to create a new fashion collection and come up with a motif for their charity gala evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the company, it took me some time before I was able to face this challenge.
Then I went on a working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and saw the amazing construction project of the Zayed National Museum, which consists of several multipurpose cultural buildings. The museum was built with the support of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the shape of the edifice refers to the wings of a falcon, the symbol of the cultural heritage of the Emirates.
For me, this unique, avant-garde and timeless building immediately conjured up the image of the mythical Phoenix bird and its legendary ability to be reborn from its own ashes. After returning home, I began to fully comprehend the metaphorical meaning of the wings and the power of the Phoenix, which emerges from ancient legends and gives hope not only to the present but also future generations.
The modern period is characterized by the pursuit of longevity, rejuvenating sera, a responsible attitude to your own body, and also a lingering financial and moral crisis. Many people look up to various idols in the form of celebrities, dream worlds and questionable associations. In fact, however, we’re all waiting for the rebirth and arrival of the mythical Phoenix, to show us the way and help us escape a dearth of morality, which fills us with skepticism, apathy and resignation towards higher values.
So that I might be able to convey the hope and energy given to me by the Phoenix to others, I created the collection Ready-to-Wear and Couture of dresses, which collectively number about 80 models. The themes of protective wings, a sharp beak, farsighted eye and light feathers were reflected in short and long evening dresses, shawls, tunics and many other models produced from organza, chiffon, velvet, satin, tulle and sequins.
In my work I combined my own technique of painting on silk with subsequently reproducing it with digital equipment. Also, all the laces I used were made in accordance with my designs so that they carried some link to the Phoenix.
I consider the rebirth of the Phoenix to be a topic any person living in today’s world can identify with. I hope that I’m able to transfer the energy which gave me the strength I required during the long preparation for this event to others!
Top model Denisa Dvořáková
She was born in 1989 in Prague. Her career started with her victory in national
finals of Elite Model Look 2006 in the Czech Republic and subsequently in the
world finals of this most prestigious modeling contest. She has long been one
of the most requested top models in the world. She has modeled for the
biggest fashion houses – Chanel, Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuiton,
Prada, Marc Jacobs, la Renta, Chloe, Celine, Lanvin, Versace, etc. She became
the face of the campaign Dolce&Gabbana, Oscar de Gabbana, Givenchy,
Pringle of Scotland, Versace, Exte, Joop, See by Chloé, Cartier photographers
and many others. She has been photographed by world-renowned photographers
Steven Meisel, Steven Klein, Mario Testino, Terry Richardson,
Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier. Her face
has graced the headlines and editorials
of leading fashion magazines – VOGUE,
Numéro, ELLE, Marie Claire,i-D, 10 Magazine,
Dazed&Confused, W magazine, V magazine
and Harpers Bazaar. Denisa is a favorite model
of Karel Lagerfeld.