Galia Lahav (Q4103)
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Galia Lahav is a fashion house from FMD.
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Galia Lahav |
Galia Lahav is a fashion house from FMD. |
Statements
In ready-to-wear, it’s common practice to revisit a designer’s past collections to gain a better understanding of their latest work. Though the clothes look radically different, the same is true of bridal; in fact, it could be that editors, buyers, and brides are even more anxious to see something truly new and fresh in the staid bridal business.For Fall 2020, Galia Lahav’s head designer Sharon Sever spoke about where the brand has been and where it’s headed: “The collection is about a lot of memories and seeing them in a modern [way],” he said. “Instead of just using sheer details and silhouettes, we wanted to present a new form of translucency.” There was a flowing A-line gown with a skirt comprised of five different layers of embroidered lace and tulle, which created the illusion of one fabric, and a draped duchesse-silk ballgown with revealing cutouts along the bodice. On the other end of the spectrum, there were also more opaque materials than we typically see in this collection, which looked refreshing on classic A-line, mermaid, and trumpet gowns.Sever lent some edge to the typically floaty and ultrafeminine sensibility with a new strong-shouldered cape and a silky long-sleeve romper layered with a beaded skirt. Still, even the most traditional gowns had a new sense of relevance thanks to the woman wearing them: transgender model Valentina Sampaio. “When we were scouting out models, we knew Valentina was the one,” Sever says. “She has a confident look that carries couture very well, and we’re a brand that is dedicated to supporting powerful women.”
7 October 2019
Beyoncé’s music has inspired many designers, not least of all Galia Lahav’s Sharon Sever. “After seeingDreamgirlsonstage in London last summer, I decided to go back and watch the film version of the musical starring Beyoncé,” he said. “While designing each of the dresses in this collection, I played ‘Listen,’ which Beyoncé sang in the movie. Somehow, when I sketched a dress without hearing the lyrics, it just wouldn’t come out right, and I’d throw the design away.”The resulting collection was influenced by the musician’s process of preparing for her role and how it may be similar to the way a bride prepares for her wedding. “I thought about how a bride often has to play a role that is expected of her, so this collection is about being true to yourself,” Sever said. “It’s about loving yourself, loving who you’re marrying, and loving what you’re wearing.”In the same way that Sever wants a bride to reject expectations, he also hopes to push the bridal industry forward: “If I don’t evolve, the dresses won’t evolve. I want to take bridal to a new place.” This season, he introduced new twists on texture and fabrication, such as bits of French guipure lace in lieu of appliqués, and a new type of embroidery that mimics lace. One gown came with triple layers of white, pink, and silver-tinted tulle, which created an ethereal effect.The dramatic corsets and trains were created with a stage in mind. “When I designed this dress, everyone thought I was crazy, but I have a head seamstress who can make anything happen,” Sever explained. It certainly stood out from the other gowns in this collection—and everything else on the Spring 2020 bridal market. “Brides are tired of the obvious,” he said. “They’re now more open to [interpreting] what a bride is ‘supposed’ to look like.”
15 April 2019
This season, Galia Lahav head designer Sharon Sever was inspired by a friend’s torrid love affair in Lisbon. Drawing on the rich culture of the Portuguese city—from its traditional fado music to the decorative azulejo tiles to the royal palaces—Sever and Lahav designed a lineup of romantic gowns with surprising details. One gown’s trumpet skirt could detach above the knee, for instance, and another came with long tulle “gloves” that mimicked sleeves.Another ballerina ball gown had embroideries inspired by Portuguese tiles, and a spaghetti strap gown came with stunning 3-D florals.“A lot of research was put into finding and creating the right fabrics,” Sever explained. “I wanted to add lots of volume, but also keep the dresses superlight, so we found new materials that would add airiness without the weight.”The brand’s signature glamour was evident in a sparkly, high-slit ball gown with a corseted bodice; a beaded fishnet mermaid dress with detachable long sleeves; and a fitted gown with a plunging V-neckline and low back. New details like modified sweetheart necklines and pull-on tulle balloon sleeves will delight the bride who wants something a little different. Sever believes a bride’s dress should not only say something about fashion but something about herself, too: “Everyone should see the bride looking stunning—not just a beautiful dress,” she said.
9 October 2018
To say that Israeli designer Galia Lahav, who designed the dresses for Serena Williams’s bridesmaids, makes gowns for the rebel bride is not an exaggeration. From the collection’s inception, head designer Sharon Sever wanted to start a revolution in bridal fashion.“Sexyis a word that defines us, but we were looking for a subtler way to do it,” he said. “It is a wedding, after all.”Known as one of the first designers to bring daringly low backs, super-sheer fabrics, and seductive silhouettes into bridal, Galia Lahav is looking to change the game again. Inspired by the current infatuation with royal weddings, Sever introduced ball gowns, voluminous skirts, and more modest looks for Spring 2019. “These silhouettes are very new for us,” he explained. “Slimming mermaid shapes have been our trademark from the start, but it was time to evolve.” The collection mixed timeless ball skirts and long trains with fresh touches the modern bride is looking for, like illusion backs and plunging necklines. Oversize bows, floral beading, and ruby embellishments upped the ante on the line’s couture detailing, too.The highlight of the collection was the addition of detachable elements, like sleeves, trains, skirts, and even bodice inserts, which offer more coverage for the ceremony and can be removed for the reception. “Some of the dresses are comprised of up to four detachable pieces that let the bride change up her look throughout the entire day,” Sever said. “Our bride wants to make a statement. Her wedding is a very big moment in her life, and she knows that this is the one occasion when she can really do it up.”
17 April 2018