When fashion becomes an art form, it contends for immortality. Or, more realistically, it achieves a timeless appeal also made up by that which is not art. Because clothes that recount a story are destined for a more attentive interpretation and conservation. If they also have something authentic to say on those who conceived them, then it’s a done deal, we’ll see them in a different light. Among experimental forms and atelier projects, subtle balances and textured materials, cultural backgrounds and architectural citations, we hold tight to those pieces that can communicate beyond the here and now.
ALESSANDRA BALBI
The background is multidisciplinary, the DNA artisanal. The luxury shoe brand created by Alessandra Balbi – fashion designer and interior architect – and handmade by Venetian artisans from Riviera del Brenta, portrays a dialogue between cultural layers. In an interweaving of humanistic throwbacks, pictorial references, and architectural proportions, the creations acquire an intrinsic value. Among traditional shapes and contemporary nuances, the collection looks to Optical art and the work of Argentina-born artist Julio Le Parc, who is famed for his multicolor juxtaposed bands.
ANITA BILARDI
Designer with a background in scenic design, Giuliana Guiso dedicated this brand to her great- grandmother after the fortuitous discovery of one of her handmade wool bags. Strong from this legacy, in a journey from Sardinian wool to the most exquisite leathers, the focus immediately goes to research onto materials and processes. These are the origins of unique one-of-a-kind bags, capable of seamlessly merging respect for the environment, first-rate leathers, and Italian artisanal excellence.
BOBO'S
Compact, heavy, opaque, and dry fabrics, which are also rich in meaning. These are the lines of design and interior design guiding Roberto Bigatti in his collections suspended between minimalism and modern architecture. The predominant color? Black, always, to be lit up and shaped with touches of light. The dress becomes flexible and a sinuous shape in space, fabrics are conceived like rich surfaces, perfect for evoking the facades of buildings.
RONI DAGAN
The tradition of Milan craft workmanship meets up with the deconstructive design of Tel Aviv. It occurs in the sartorial collections designed by this brand based in Milan, which is portrayed through a hybridism capable of blurring the lines between art and fashion. Roni celebrates values like diversity and inclusiveness in an evolved system, which is moderated by a profound sense of environmental responsibility. Even the materials are sustainable: vegetable or organic fabrics, made up by biodegradable fibers, which are still rich in UV protection, antibacterial and anti-irritation properties, and superior breathability.
SELEZZA LONDON
The aesthetics of movement becomes the leitmotif of the collection. Like a choreographer is inspired by the explosion of spring, the pureness of winter, summer fireworks, and the quiet of autumn, the founders of Selezza look to dance and all of its seasons. Tulle, lace, delicate pastel nuances, and silk textures grace a summer season filled with the rhythmic notes of a romantic dance. Twirling skirts and rustling shirts reflect the passion of a Latin dance, while clothes with a vintage soul tell of seductions unfolding in ballrooms from long ago.