ITALIAN BRANDS TO FOLLOW

Italian fashion is defined by high-quality textiles and top-notch tailoring. Milan is home to some of the most famous luxury fashion brands in the world: the city prides itself on having a centuries-old sartorial heritage, and the locals definitely know their way around couture. 

Some  most   famous  brands  are.-

• Giorgio Armani

    Milan is the city where he truly felt himself. He moved to Milan at a young age, doing all sorts of fashion-related jobs before launching his eponymous brand in 1975. The label rose to prominence with its line of deconstructed suits that challenged traditional tailoring: the Armani jacket became both a staple for style-conscious men and the go-to garment for the new generation of working women seeking a more powerful image .Armani is much loved and respected by the Milanese, who fondly call him King George. Every fashion week, as well as showcasing his own collections, he offers his venue – the prestigious Armani Teatro – free of charge to a young designer of his choice.

   

  •   Attico

   

    Attico (Italian for penthouse) is the brainchild of street-style icons Gilda Ambrosio and Giorgia Tordini, born out of a shared love for glamour and sparkle. In 2016, they decided to launch their own brand. The label soon became a favourite of both seasoned fashion editors and cool party girls, stocked on Net-a-Porter and in international concept stores. By using luxurious, richly patterned silks and elaborate embroidery, the brand infuses opulence into the urban wardrobe. Signature items include ultra-feminine mini-dresses, sparkling ’80s-inspired blazers, tank tops and sensual silky loungewear.

   

  

  •  Sicillian Domenico Dolce and Milanese Stefano Gabbana debuted as a designer-duo (and as a couple) at Milan Fashion Week in 1985 with a striking ‘Sicilian widow’ collection. Over the years, they’ve displayed collections that channel different narratives and characters of the Mediterranean: slick pinstripe suits, bombastic Baroque evening wear, gauche Neapolitan streetwear or romantic fairytale gowns.  Brocade, floral embroideries, lace, animalier prints and all things decadent are among the brand’s signature elements. Their ad campaigns are usually crowded shots of Sicilian lifestyle scenes, often featuring the brand’s all-time muse.

  
  

  •  Maschino was launched in 1983, embodying the ’80s love for all things eccentric and over the top. Franco Moschino was an artist and an intellectual; before his untimely death in 1994, he led his brand with a punk attitude and satirical wit. His eccentric designs often satirised the fashion establishment and its victims: garbage-bag dresses, ‘waist of money’ belts stitched onto Chanel-like suits, hats shaped like light-bulbs, beautifully cut jackets with a giant pair of eyes on the back, and a very heavy use of prints and logos were all part of Moschino’s radical vision and pop aesthetic. The brand’s creative director is now Jeremy Scott, who has perpetuated Franco Moschino’s spirit, gaining the reputation of “most irreverent designer” and “fashion’s last rebel”. From Barbie dolls to The Wizard of Oz, his collections are still inspired by pop elements, often carrying bold political statements.

   

  • Prada

   

  Prada started off in 1913 as a luxury leather atelier, but it wasn’t until Miuccia Prada, granddaughter of the founder, took over the company in 1978, that it achieved the global reputation it has now. Miuccia ignored the glittery zeitgeist of the ’80s by designing bold and elegant statement pieces. She then moved on to using utilitarian fabrics for ready-to-wear and, together with her husband Patrizio Bertelli, she produced upscale totes and backpacks out of a tough military spec black nylon that her grandfather had used as coverings for steamer trunks, radically changing the world’s idea of luxury. Thirty years later, Miuccia is still dictating trends.  The opening of Milan’s leading contemporary art space, Fondazione Prada, also designed by Koolhaas, stands as a testament to Prada’s undying cool.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  • Versace

     Versace was founded in Milan in 1978 by Gianni Versace, who grew up in the south of Italy, learning his trade from his seamstress mother. Versace became known for outlandish glamour, typically using innovative materials to produce sexy, feminine dresses. His sculpted siren dresses became his signature silhouette, and the brand’s logo, the head of bewitching Medusa, is a recurring motif. In 1997, Versace was shot and killed outside his Miami Beach mansion. In his  Following Gianni’s death, his sister Donatella took the helm as artistic director and has been leading and expanding the brand ever since.

     

     

    • Marni

       Founded in Milan in 1994 by Consuelo Castiglioni, Marni soon became internationally renowned for its innovative prints and colors and experimental collections. When Castiglioni stepped down in 2016, Marni appointed Francesco Risso as creative director, opening a new chapter for the brand. Risso managed to keep Castiglioni’s fans happy by upholding the label’s reputation of mixing eccentricity with intellectualism, while at the same bringing in his own ideas. Risso draws inspiration from the art world, from social matters and from the people around him. His creations are exceptionally narrative, with every piece telling a story and infused with a visionary aesthetic. 

      Instagram is a good place to get acquainted with Risso’s world: using the – slightly pulp – name @asliceofbambi, the designer charms his followers with his daily inspo and subversive muses.

       

      • Marco Rambaldi

          Marco Rambaldi is one of Milan’s (few) fresh, young design talents. After presenting his first women swear collection during Milan Fashion Week in 2014, he was awarded the Next Generation prize and since then has earned several prestigious accolades for emerging designers, including the Vogue Talents award. His collections range from simple everyday garments with a pop vibe to more intricate evening wear with a sartorial cut.