Janice Martin’s PIFA Gown: A Multi-Tiered, Illuminating Experience
by Julie Davis

“This Friday, April 8, the fashions of nine local designers will share the runway with Ralph Rucci during PIFA’s Couture Runway Show.  In anticipation of the big event, we’ve contacted a handful of the designers for a taste of what to expect to see strutting down the catwalk.

Up next is Janice Martin, an Ardmore-based designer who specializes in couture bridal and evening gowns.  (Did you know that the Philadelphia Museum of Art once called upon Martin to assist in restoring Princess Grace’s bridal veil for a museum exhibit?)  Here, Martin tells us about one of the designs from her collection, a two-piece gown in lace and silk organza.  A true reflection of the PIFA theme of artistic collaboration, the gown is a partnership with lighting specialist, Lee Wainwright.

How does the design speak to PIFA’s Parisian inspiration and/or theme of artistic revolution?
Paris is the City of Lights.  The PIFA event references the Belle Epoque, a time in which many artists collaborated across many spectrums, therefore, I invited other artists to work with Janice Martin Couture in designing our gowns.  This gown features the work of Lee Wainwright of JFMagic, a lighting designer.  Other gowns in our section of the show include the textile designs of Lonni Rossi.”