World-renowned Fashion Designer Giambattista Valli to show at the ROM

Highlight of the sparkling fundraiser Material Ball: Diamonds on November 13, 2008

On Thursday, November 13, the ROM showcases the North American premiere of the Giambattista Valli Spring/Summer 2009 collection, part of its gala fundraising event Material Ball: Diamonds. Hosted by FashionTelevision’s Jeanne Beker, and co-chaired by Kimberley Newport-Mimran and Simona Shnaider, Material Ball: Diamonds will present the runway show that garnered international praise at its Paris debut.

Material Ball emcee Jeanne Beker took in Giambattista Valli’s recent show in Paris and pronounced, “Rarely have I seen a collection with as much artistry, innovation, romance, and vision. We are so privileged to have this design genius show his spectacular creations at our event. Toronto has never seen anything like it!”

Material Ball: Diamonds commences with a red carpet arrival at the Weston Entrance and special viewing of the ROM’s recently-opened exhibition, The Nature of Diamonds, presented by De Beers Canada Inc. Following an elegant dinner in the Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery, accompanied by the jazz stylings of Canada’s Young Divas, the sparkling evening culminates with the runway presentation of Giambattista Valli’s Spring/Summer 2009 collection, fittingly mounted in the architecture of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.

Giambattista Valli studied fashion at the European Design Institute and Saint Martin’s School of Art in London. In 1988, he began work with couturier Roberto Capucci, and then went on to other fine fashion houses, including that of Emanuel Ungaro. In 2005, Giambattista boldly left the familiar surroundings of Ungaro and began designing his eponymous label for the Fall/Winter 2005 season. With a chic and sculpted aesthetic, the first collection, which debuted in Paris, was an immediate success with buyers and fashion editors alike. Since the inception of the brand, the collection has attained cult status with women as diverse as Queen Raina of Jordan, Penelope Cruz, and Naomi Campbell.

This exclusive fashion show at Material Ball: Diamonds is presented by Alex and Simona Shnaider with support by Air France, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Ketel One, L'Oréal Professional, MAC Cosmetics, and theideashop. All proceeds from the gala fundraiser support the ROM's Burnham Brett Endowment for Textiles and Costume, and the textile and costume priorities of the Renaissance ROM Campaign.

Kimberley Newport-Mimran and Simona Shnaider serve as the Gala’s co-chairs with Jennifer Ivey Bannock, Jeanne Beker, Samantha Brickman, Susan Langdon, and Nicholas Mellamphy rounding out the organizing committee.

This is the third edition of Material Ball. The inaugural gala, in 2002, celebrated the ROM original exhibition Elite Elegance: Couture Fashion in the 1950s while the second edition fêted Pearls: A Natural History in 2004.

Premium tables of 10 are $25,000 with individual tickets priced at $1,000 each. These may be purchased at www.rom.on.ca or by contacting Kirsten Kamper of the ROM Governors at 416.586.8064 or kirstenk@rom.on.ca. A partial tax receipt for the maximum amount will be issued to individuals according to Canada Revenue Agency Guidelines.