Strange weather and a string of typhoons have kept Kamiseta from unveiling their latest billboard model, but should the weather cooperate this week, expect to see one of the world’s top, top models on it.
Russian-born model and actress Natalia Vodianova is the new face of Kamiseta.
Born to a poor family in the USSR in 1982, Vodianova enrolled in modeling school at the age of 15 and moved to Paris at 17. Having climbed her way to the top of the modeling industry, Forbes magazine named her one of the highest paid models of 2009, estimating her earnings at $5.5 million a year.
She has appeared on the cover of British Vogue seven times and has walked in more than 175 runway shows.
Her ad campaigns include Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, L’Oréal, David Yurman, Marc Jacobs, Miss Sixty, Pepe Jeans, Diane von Fürstenberg, Chanel and now, Kamiseta.
Vodianova is the newest face of the highly successful, homegrown clothing company that started with China Cojuangco as its first model in 1997, followed by China and her sister Maimai Cojuangco.
In 2002 Kamiseta rocked the local fashion industry when it signed up Hollywood actress Alicia Silverstone to endorse the label followed by Natalie Portman, Kate Hudson, and model Petra Nemcova.
This year Kamiseta decided to shift from Hollywood to runway and searched for a model with a fresh but recognizable face.
Natalia Vodianova was flown in from London to New York to shoot the ad campaign with photographer Caroline Schiff.
Kamiseta’s president and CEO Gunn Roque describes the model as “super nice, with no hang-ups and very family oriented. She talks about her family and asks a lot about our family.”
Natalia has three children with real estate heir, the Honourable Justin Trevor Berkely Postman, whom she married in 2001.
“She really wants the shot. She’s very talkative and friendly but when the camera starts to click she turns into a real supermodel,” Roque added.
“You can really see the difference. The photographer takes a lot of shots and she reviews them. If Natalia feels she can do a better pose she says, ‘Let’s do it again.’ She knew exactly what we wanted.”
The result is very Kamiseta — light, cozy, wholesome, and reflecting the expressive warmth of Schiff’s photography.
Roque says Vodianova “loved the clothes and couldn’t believe we are not yet in Europe.” No worries, Kamiseta will be sending her the clothes throughout her contract.
Expect to see key pieces of cardigans, ruffles, textured fabrics, and eyelets when the new collection comes out in stores this week.
Next month watch out for Kamiseta shoes in Metro Manila stores.