"A SWISS FASHION SHOW"

November 24, 1976
Sheraton Hotel, Cairo
Reviewed by Jean-Louis Bernier, La Tribune
Translation by Reginald Bigras

"As we had previously announced, a Swiss fashion show took place in the salons of a great hotel in Cairo during the Swiss-Expo '76, a Swiss industrial and technological exposition in Egypt, starring Fred Affolter, 59 years old, one of the best renowned Swiss couturiers.


"Fred Affolter, one of Switzerland's most famous leading couturiers, was born in 1917. Although interest in couture from a very early age, he hesitated whether to go in for acting or take up fashion designing, finally opting to become a tailor. He trained in Lausanne and in Paris where he gradually turned to designing women's fashions. In 1950, in cooperation with his wife, also a couturiere, he opened up his own couture establishment at Granges.

"The whole of Cairo, including representatives of the Embassies and Ministries, and fashion designers represented by the fashion editors of the great Egyptian newspapers, hurried on the evening of November twenty-fourth to attend this fashion show honoured by the presence of Madame Brugger, wife of the head of the Department of Public Economy.

"Forty exclusive designs constituted Fred Affolter's original collection. The beauty and richness of the embroideries of St. Gall inspired Fred Affolter in the creation of this original collection with its distinctly oriental appear. Out of these forty designs, thirty-five were made of lace and five were double face, silk and wool, entirely reversible. The luxurious tissues, richly embroidered(sometimes worth two hundred francs per metre), were greatly admired, and the four fashion models (two Swiss ladies and two Egyptian ladies) were not only applauded for the beauty of their ensembles, but also for the footwear and the Swiss watches they were wearing...

"Tunic dresses, afternoon and evening dresses, two-piece outfits, empire-style dresses, long shirtwaist dresses, caftans, coats, gala evening ensembles of all styles and bridal gowns: the Swiss choice in Cairo was varied. This Egyptian Premiere, by its attendance and the interest it created, has been a real success.