Saint's Shena and Sam head to Paris ... for couture fashion shows

Saint International has announced that its models Shena Moulton and Sam Taylor are heading to Paris, the fashion capital, to kickstart the international fashion season at the Paris Couture shows from January 23-26.

Both models are scheduled to arrive in the City of lights by January 20 when they are expected to meet a number of the ultra luxury French labels.

The Couture shows are legendary for the fantasy element to their creations. Handsewn to perfection, dresses are known to take a very long time to create and are scandalously expensive. Prices can reach mortgage-like proportions of up to US$250,000. The Couture collections will be followed a month later by the ready-to-wear collections fashionably termed Prêt-à-Porter.

EXCLUSIVITY

Steeped in a tradition of exclusivity, the couture collections cater for the ultra rich women. Many are self-made businesswomen, (think Oprah) wives or daughters of oil barons, shipping magnates, Arabian sheiks or industrial tycoons from Asia and the Americas. Twice yearly - January and July, the top models are flown to Paris to showcase these exquisite garments from the world's best known designers such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Armani Prive and others.

Known for its rigorously scientific attention to detail, girls who are selected are usually 178cm in height with hip sizes maximising at 34 inches. Saint models like CJ, Sam Taylor and Raschell Osbourne, have appeared in Paris for couture. Last July, the agency's fast-rising supermodel Shena Moulton appeared for the Christian Dior couture, only days after graduating from Penwood High School in Waterhouse.

"It's remarkable the kinds of exciting international opportunities that Saint provides for so many Jamaicans," says an understandably proud Deiwght Peters. Shena is signed to Elite Paris while Sam will be represented by Major Paris Saint models' French Connection.

Over the last decade, more than 20 Saint International models have been signed to leading agencies in Paris. Currently, they have more than 10 of its models represented in Paris.

"Paris agencies are extraordinarily selective, and so we are proud at Saint to be able to achieve such distinction with our models in that market," explained Peters, founder of the 12-year-old agency. Saint models who are now represented by leading Paris agencies include Orneila Edwards, Ashane Rose, Kim Gordon, Sosheba Griffiths, Shena Moulton, Shaneke Guyher, Rainer Boucard, Trissan Holder, Raschell Osbourne, Sam Taylor among others. Saint models have appeared for leading French brands including Yves St Laurent, Chrisitian Dior, Anne Valerie Hash, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Cacharel, and others.