La Dolce Vita

When it comes to the dog-eat-dog world of Australian retailing, brand exclusivity is a virtue. It comes as little surprise then, that local buyers were quick to put their ears to the ground when a delegation of Italian designers arrived in Sydney earlier this month. Assia Benmedjdoub dissects the high-end (and locally untapped) labels behind the 'Lazio Lifestyle In Australia' expo.

Le Tartarughe
If an Italian were to describe the aesthetic of Le Tartarughe to an Australian or a New Zealand buyer, they would probably couch it in similar terms to Easton Pearson and Trelise Cooper. Although less directional than the latter two, Susanna Liso's prêt-a-porter range adopts a similar bohemian focus with contrasting fabrications, earthy colour palettes and heavy embellishments. Priced between $114 and $325, the spring/summer 2008 range features mini dresses in viscose and linen, masculine style jackets, waistcoats and trousers and flowing wool and cashmere creations. Vintage greens, reds and oranges are offset with steel and asphalt greys. Lisa currently sells through five stores in Italy along with select retailers throughout Holland and the wider European region. 

Renato Balestra
Renato Balestra never believed in the old odium "you can't be all things to everyone". Although the iconic Italian company boasts a rich history in haute couture - dressing everyone from Empress Farah Diba, the Queen of Thailand and the first ladies of the Phillipines and Egypt - director Frederica Balestra is focused on pushing the company's shirting arm in Australia. "It's a young country and people here like to dress modern, to mix innovation with tradition," she says. Priced at around $100, the shirts are made from high-quality cottons and feature signature buttons, tailored cuts and the Renato Balestra logo on the breast pocket. The company currently designs and markets thirty different ranges including haute couture, ready-to-wear, menswear and accessories.

  
Litrico
During a trip to the United States in 1959, the leader of Soviet Russia took off his shoe and beat it heavily against the table of the United Nations. Nikita Khrushchev's act of defiance was published in over 37 international newspapers and marked the growing tension between Eastern Europe and its Western counterparts. Not that the founder of Litrico was in a panic - both the shoe and suit he wore were made by him personally. This, along with many other priceless moments of publicity, have helped the 56-year-old brand establish itself as a premium destination for suiting. Currently searching for an Australian distributor for its ready-to-wear arm, Litrico suits are priced from $5500 and are manufactured in Italy from premium, local fabrications.

Grimaldi Giardina
Even with the overbearing threat of post-modern feminism, Sylvio Giardina doesn't mince his words : "It's not right to cover a woman's body, it should be shown". The co-founder of Grimaldi Giardina has carved out a strong niche in his Italian homeland, creating feminine pieces which highlight the female waist, décolletage and shoulders. Currently wholesaling to multi-branded fashion boutiques throughout the world, the designer says he wants to secure a local distributor and sell through at least ten stores in Australia. "Australia is such a young country and I am such a young designer so I am very excited to be here," he said.   

Ettore Bilotta
Womenswear designer Ettore Bilotta has his work cut out for him in Australia. But even with wholesale price points marked between $800 and $1600, he's confident he can crack the country's competitive high-end fashion market. The designer's latest collection, inspired by singer Edith Piaf and dubbed 'La Vie Is En Rose...?', features heavily embroidered eveningwear and separates including tailored suits of silk jersey and wool, geometrical stoles of black fox and flowing satin gowns adorned with paillettes. Bilotta has a strong following in the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Russia. 

Stretch Couture
The moniker says it all: the fabrics are stretchy, the cuts are couture. Launched by Augusto Vespasiani and Laura Nesi in 1988 -  arguably at the height of body-contoured womenswear - the Roman-based brand specialises in directional eveningwear. Entirely handmade in the pair's atelier in Appia Nuovo, the latest collection includes dresses, bodysuits and separates with experimental embroidery, stretched seams, overlaid whalebones, pleating, ribbings, engravings and incisions.