Atelier by Daalarna introduces Daalarna’s new exclusive line, featuring the most luxurious materials, including the finest Italian and French haute couture lace, extensive handwork, and lavish fabric usage. The inaugural collection of this new line, WHITE SWAN, was showcased in the unique black E-WOW suite of W Budapest.
“Haute couture tailoring has become a lost art, not only in Hungary but also in fashion capitals worldwide. Few seamstresses and brands maintain this level of craftsmanship today, though it was once the hallmark of renowned fashion houses,” says Anita Benes.
“For twenty-two years domestically and ten years internationally, Daalarna has upheld a tradition of precise and time-intensive artisanal techniques. Recent trends have led us to simplify these methods, making them more accessible to most brides. However, we’ve observed a growing demand from clients seeking truly unique and eye-catching dresses for their special day. They eschew the commonplace styles of the Covid era, opting instead for distinctive pieces of art inspired by Hollywood stars and royal weddings, crafted specifically for one of the most significant days of their lives. These dresses are intended to be cherished through generations for their timeless elegance or perhaps displayed in museums as emblematic relics of an era.”
Responding to this demand, Anita Benes sought to create a new line, Atelier by Daalarna, as an alternative to the classic Daalarna brand, where she could fully exercise her artistic freedom without constraints on pricing. Consequently, the Daalarna team took pleasure in bringing the WHITE SWAN luxury collection to life, utilizing the most innovative technologies and materials available.
What sets the new Atelier by Daalarna line apart from the standard collections?
- Greater emphasis on design freedom and creativity.
- Spectacular, bold statement pieces.
- Heightened focus on craftsmanship, featuring hand-stitched and personalized details.
- Utilization of the finest technologies and craftsmanship.
- Creativity unhindered by price constraints.
- Incorporation of the most exclusive French and Italian haute couture lace.
- Increased material usage per dress, triple to quadruple that of classic collections.
- Significantly longer production times, requiring four to five times as many man-hours for sewing, embroidery, and beading.
- Exclusive features such as cathedral veils with hand-embroidery, glittering details, voluminous skirts, regal looks, and handcrafted jewelry.
The WHITE SWAN luxury collection comprises eight exceptional pieces, each evoking the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age and reminiscent of today’s opulent royal and celebrity weddings.
“The most thrilling aspect is not only the exclusivity of these dresses in terms of materials and design but also the craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail invested in each piece. As a designer, it was gratifying to revisit techniques less utilized in the past decade, such as structured dresses, corsets, and luxurious materials like brocade or caterpillar silk jersey. Daalarna’s strength has always been its craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, and with this new line, we’re returning to our roots. For those seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience on their wedding day, I wholeheartedly recommend Atelier by Daalarna’s debut collection, WHITE SWAN.”
The campaign for the WHITE SWAN luxury collection was shot in the distinctive black suite (Extreme WOW) of W Budapest, where the model embodied the spirit of the Black Swan movie protagonist within the walls of the building, once a ballet institute situated opposite the Opera House. The W Budapest hotel, a part of Marriott International, stands on Andrassy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The collection’s concept aligns perfectly with the hotel’s aesthetics, as the interior designers drew inspiration from Swan Lake when crafting its two most unique suites—the all-black Extreme WOW and the all-white WOW. These rooms feature lamps and mirrors reminiscent of ballet dressing rooms, with beds resembling revolving stages.
“The Extreme WOW presidential suite, with its dominant black theme, provided an incredibly inspiring backdrop for our photoshoot,” says Anita Benes. “It exudes luxury, elegance, and extravagance, perfectly complementing the premiere collection of Daalarna’s new exclusive line, WHITE SWAN.”
The new line - Atelier by Daalarna - and the latest standard Daalarna collection will debut in April at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week. Both collections will be soon available at Daalarna’s Budapest showroom and at international retailers worldwide.
ANGEL
BLOOM
CRYSTAL
GRACE
HOPE
ICON
SPARKLE
WONDER
Photography: Éva Papp & Zoltán Schneider @pappschneiderphotography, Dresses: Daalarna @daalarnaofficial, Hair & Makeup: Csilla Kiss @kisscsicsi, Model: Berta Nagy @bertanagy / Attractive Models @attractivemodels, Location: W Budapest @wbudapest_hotel
