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Daily Fashion & Runway News
Feb 15, 2012
With Arianna Huffington, Phillip Bloch, and Joe Zee.
In 2004, under the Canadian sportswear label Ports International’s umbrella, North African–born, Vancouver-bred designer Tia Cibani launched Ports 1961, a women’s ready-to-wear line full of classic, structured pieces, with a romantic and sometimes ethnic twist. Since Cibani’s fall 2006 runway debut, the designer has showcased storytelling collections full of chunky knits and soft separates in earthy tones made to layer, often with some sort of exotic touch like burlap fringe or wooden accessories. Her work has won over notable girls from downtown and uptown circles alike, including Arden Wohl and Olivia Palermo, respectively. It also opened the door for the designer to dress the female commentators for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, a fitting opportunity for the worldly designer. In 2010, Tia stepped down, and her sister Fiona took the reigns.
“When in doubt, wear a deep chocolate brown—it'll look rich and beautiful. If you keep it simple but really bring on the accessories, it will look chic.”—Tia Cibani Harper's Bazaar
“A pragmatic shopper might think she really only needs a few cashmere staples: a sweater, a wrap, a coat, a couple of scarfs. But Tia Cibani, creative director of Ports 1961, is out to change that idea, and she made a good argument with her fall collection. How about a sweats-style skirt in heather gray, a chunky strapless frock in winter white or an oversized loose nude dress with a subtly bubbled hem? Add to these a parade of louche tapered pants in calming neutrals and those charming cropped sweaters and jackets, and voila, you're officially cuckoo for cashmere. But fashion isn't just about a cozy, chic knit, and Cibani did branch out with tweed jackets and skirts and a handful of satin dresses—the prettiest being a velvet-trimmed sage floral topped with a darling nubby gray coat.”—Women's Wear Daily
Fiona Cibani