By Edna Louise Harper
Photo by Louis-Marie de Castelbajac
October 23, 2009

London, UK - The French superstar designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac was honored last night in Nicosia, Cyprus with the first ever LifeTime Achievement Award presented by magazine Harper’s Bazaar Cyprus.

The award was presented at a lavish VIP replete ceremony attended by celebrities, socialites, diplomats, international press and buyers. Taking place at the famed Fumagasta Gate in Nicosia, the event officially opened the 4 th edition of the Cyprus Fashion Week and its presentation of the Spring/Summer 2010 collections by the members of the Cyprus Fashion Designers Association and guest designers.

The award ceremony featured a fashion show of Castelbajac’s current principal line. The finale included a huge lineup of the designer’s iconoclastic dresses in sequins which feature such famous faces as pop icon Michael Jackson, President Barack Obama, Vivienne Westwood, Tom Ford, etc.

Television personality and journalist Marcellous L. Jones, who is both host of television’s Fashion Insider and editor-in-chief at TheFashionInsider.com Magazine, conducted an in depth pre-recorded interview with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac that was shown during the night’s festivities.

“Jean-Charles de Castelbajac is one of the most dynamic and endearing designers of our generation. I can think of none more deserving than he of this award at this moment in time”, says Jones. “I am thrilled to know him and to have been asked to take part in honoring the man responsible for making imagination, color and fun permanent staples of the fashion industry.”

During the interview, Castelbajac recounted the origins of his fascination with color, fantasy and pop culture. He also spoke fondly of key moments in his career including his first encounters with Farah Fawcett, his designing for Pope Jean-Paul II, his friendships with Vivienne Westwood, Chantal Thomass and Takada Kenzo and his fascination with music and pop culture. ...

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