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Ulla Maija |
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Fashion is often divided into two distinct segments;
Ready to Wear and Couture.
Ready to Wear is designed for a "type" of client and manufactured at
varied levels of quality to standardized dimensions.
Couture is designed to a specific designer's, or couturier's, design
sensibility and manufactured for an "individual" client.
Anna Maier ~ Ulla-Maija is a couturier in the true sense of the word.
We are a design driven business, where "line" is the most important
element of design. The beauty and expression of our client is the
single intention of the line we draw. Every design begins with a
sketch. By virtue of our manufacturing approach, we have great freedom
in the line we create. We choose fabric and technique to make the line
a reality.
Draping is a technique that softly, and at times dramatically,
expresses the line. We excel at it because we design to our vision and
are not constricted by what our vision would require of production. We
require that production satisfies the purest expression of the design.
It is commonplace for us to hand drape and baste our designs more than
once during the production process. This is a requirement of draping.
This is the requirement of soft and dramatic lines. Beyond our fabrics
and trims, this freedom to make what we imagine is our luxury.
When the line is more architectural, we utilize the seam lines of the
gown to define the body. Here our make allows us to do this in both a
crisp, as well as, a sensual way. For the latter, we use our bias
construction. Here our seam lines define the structure of the gown and
contour the body, while our fabrics drape the body. The true luxury of
a bias gown is only realized when the actual weight of the fabric
allows gravity to pull the gown down the body employing its natural
bias elasticity. Our bias gowns are self lined, doubling the weight
and smoothing the line thus ensuring that luxury. We use embroidery to
either highlight the line or completely illuminate our client.
It is beauty and expression we seek. Line, technique and fabric are
our tools.
To satisfy the premise defined by design, we must have a specific
understanding of our clients' body lines, proportions and dimensions.
Making a couture gown begins with detailed client measurements. These
allow the creation of an individual pattern. The actual pattern from
the original design is redrawn to the specific body measurements of
our client. When appropriate, a muslin or "toile" pattern is made from
these measurements. This muslin is fit for precision, and from it, the
final pattern is made.
Anna Maier ~ Ulla-Maija gowns are cut one at a time to our client's
pattern. Seams and darts are carefully placed. Fabrics from a single
roll are chosen. Our gowns are built architecturally to support the
design and ensure the client's comfort and elegance. Various types of
boning and lining material are used as dictated by the design of the
gown. They are built to caress the body rather than compress it. The
gowns will enhance the lines of the client rather than alter them.
Each gown is hand made and finished. Every design and construction
detail is inspected by several professionals prior to delivery to our
salons and client. The final inspection is done by the designers who
penned the gown's original sketch. Timely delivery is a hallmark of
the company.
An Anna Maier ~ Ulla-Maija Couture gown should be the perfect marriage
of a woman's beauty to the design and craftsmanship to compliment it.
Ulla Maija Website
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