ROME -- Thursday sees the beginning of the January AltaRoma fashion shows -- a four-day exhibition of both up-and-coming talent and long established designers, championing small ateliers and local projects born and based in the Eternal City as well as historic brands and international haute couture houses.

 A creative outlet for some of the most cutting-edge names in the fashion industry, the celebrated biyearly event, renowned for its high-class turnout, attracts a host of celebrities and socialites for its exceptional fusion of the traditional and the contemporary.

 National and local heritage is key to the catwalks, even encouraging luxury boutiques and artisan workshops to open their doors on the streets of Rome to welcome in AltaRoma representatives and proudly display their unique workings.

 The promotion of emerging talent is also central. Saturday afternoon, for example, is dedicated to the ‘Portfolio Review,’ allowing individual designers, stylists and illustrators to present their work to Italian Vogue Senior Editor Sara Maino and Simonetta Gianfelici, talent scout for ‘Who Is On Next?’.

 From exclusive exhibitions such as ‘The Secrets of Couture,’ fascinating talks such as ‘Roman’s Romance,’ discussing the unique synergy between the Italian capital and the world of fashion, and, of course, spectacular catwalk shows from Roberta Cenci, Giuliana Guidotti, Sabrina Persechino, Melampo and Giada Curti (to name only a few), the January AltaRoma extravaganza promises to inspire and impress.  

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