Designers show off in Taipei

TOKYO. Two fashion designers from Panama, Jaime Luna and Greta Bayo, were at the fashion exhibition Taipei In Style, displaying their latest works and seeking to introduce them to Taiwan.

“I really appreciate the Central America Trade Office (CATO) for inviting me to this show,” Luna said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to gain a better understanding of the Taiwanese market.”

Luna took an interest in fashion when he was a child. He often drew ideas and inspirations on paper, a talent that eventually landed him a job in Panama's fashion industry.

Having stayed on the job for over 20 years, Luna has become a design pioneer in Panama -- “the center of universe” of Central America's fashion industry, he said.

Luna took his newest works to Taipei In Style -- 2010 spring and summer designs for women, all of which were featured at a catwalk during the show.

One of the exhibits he took to Taipei In Style, a woman's jacket, for example, is bright, beach-colored and has buttons made up of shells.

The man is environmentally conscious: “All my clothes are made with natural materials,” he said.

Bayo, meanwhile, makes cocktail dresses, skirts and some long dresses for women aged between 20 and 35.

“This is my first time in Taiwan, and I immediately felt the hot and sunny weather was similar to Panama's,” she said.

Taipei in Style, organized by the Taiwan Textile Federation and Taiwan External Trade Development Council, was held in the Taipei World Trade Center from Aug. 28 to 30. The show is in its fourth year.