Archives: April 2007
Sun Apr 22, 2007
Begin with Bernini, end with Armani.
Design is thought of by many people to be the design of clothing alone. I too, categorized design this way until learning that our everyday home accessories, such as an armchair or a table, could fall under the same category.
Milan is a very famous city in Italy. Along with New York, London, and Paris, it is one on the fashion capitals of the world. It is also one of the wealthiest cities in the European Union due to the 80 million euros the city grosses through high fashion. Many well known Italian fashion designers have built their fashion houses in Milan. Some of these designers include Giorgio Armani, Donatella Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana.
Milan is home to the first ever shopping mall, Vittorio Emanuelle.
Our classes in Milan allowed us to meet some prominent people in the Italian fashion industry. Meeting an actual fashion designer and being able to talk to him and ask questions about the business was really helpful. Stefano was able to explain the differences between working in high fashion design and working in sportswear. It was also very helpful to learn how he works directly with the directors for commercial shoots that used his brands. I also learned the importance of the relationship between a designer and a company. This plays a major role when deciding who to work with on projects. The environment of your work makes a difference on the outcome of your designs.
We also meet a Vogue Italia journalist, Donatella. I found it interesting to see diverse aspects of fashion based on different points of view. Donatella gave us insight into the aspects of working with high fashion and runway shows. She also introduced us to the way clothing design and in-home accessories were intertwined. Through meeting her I learned how important others people’s opinions of you can influence your success. A journalist could either help boost your career or end it quickly! The more experience the journalist has, the greater influence he or she has over consumers. Fashion journalists are the only people allowed to visit company show rooms for the up-and-coming season. Companies allow this because through the journalists they are able to advertise before actually showing their brands. Also, the consumer can linger over a product before being able to purchase it.
Although many people think of Milan as being one of the leading places for clothing design, it is very prominent in the design of home furnishings and art. Over the years, Milanese have expressed themselves through art. whether by building a skyscraper or adining table. You can find art in Milan everywhere. Home furnishing design is very much like clothing design. They both draw from artistic inspirations. Both have to be designed carefully to cater to a specific demographic.
While studying in Milan, we visited a museum for modern design in home furnishings. The museum was filled with various types of chairs and tables all made of various materials and in different ways. We were also fortunate to have a very experienced guide in this area of design, as well. Massimo also works as a journalist. He was able to give us a more in-depth knowledge of Milan’s history of expressing itself artistically. He taught us how you could look at a painting and see the same expression in a piece of furniture. I personally never realized how much paintings influenced culture in the past and how it still has the same effect today. Who would have ever thought that Picasso, Giorgio Armani, Knoll, and Piero Portaluppi could be mentioned under the same category of expression? Although each one worked in a different artisitc field, their works all were created within the cultural and social influences of a specific time.....and that just happens to be the definition of design!
Massimo with the group at the Portaluppi Foundation.
The first Prada store was built in Milan.
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Sun Apr 15, 2007
Revolutionizing the Italian Image.
Italy has been a united country for less than 200 years, but the history and culture that define Italy date back over 2000 years. Each region of Italy has its own unique traditions and culture, yet these differences blend together to make Italy a nation. Rome and Milan, the two major cities in Italy, have each come to represent a different era of the Italian image. Rome embodies the old Italy; traditional, catholic, family oriented, the Renaissance age. Milan represents the edgy, economically successful, global fashion capital. To juxtapose these two cities, the disparity between the old image of Italy, and modern generation, places into stark reality the vast differences of these images.
Milan is the fashion capital of the world. Designers and producers flock to Milan to view the shows and exhibitions of the latest fashion. Milan is a vibrant, diverse, economic city that exemplifies the new global market. Our lecture on the European Union explained some of the economic benefits that Italy has experienced as a member of the European Union. The economic stability provided under the guidance of the EU, has enabled Milan to gross more than 80 million Euros a year from the fashion industry. With the emergence of the modern and more traditional urban city of Milan, the older more traditional cities such as Rome fade into memory. Rome will always maintain a place of consequence due to its historic and cultural significance, but it no longer contributes the economic weight it once did. Rome’s main industry, tourism, will continue to provide life to the city, but the economic industry present in Milan has made it the financial image of Italy.
The arts play a dominant role in the Italian image. The history and prosperity of Italy can be tracked by simply observing the art. Art pervades into every aspect of the culture, from the people, to the history, and even into the economic spheres. Art has come to define Italy. The full influence of art upon the culture is engrained into the soul of the people. The global fashion industry holds residence in Milan, and Italian designers and brands are among the leading competitors in the global market, because of this engrained artistic tradition that Italy possesses. Roberto Cavalli, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Gucci, and Prada, are a few of the famous designers with Italian roots and origins. Italian designers possess a unique affinity for fashion prowess, because of the strong influence of the arts upon their culture. Yet, the source of this influential art is changing, shifting from the Raphael’s of the Renaissance, to the Umberto Boccioni’s of the abstract era. Rome is personified by the Renaissance, and Milan embodies the abstract and modern art. Milan and Rome each represent an era of Italian culture and history, and as our world changes, it will be interesting to see which city comes to represent the international face of Italy.
From Bernini"s Baldacchino at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to Kartel 's modern designs in Milan.
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Fri Apr 06, 2007
Casa Dolce Casa
An American living in Tuscany, Marlena di Blasi observed that in Italy there are two social sects, the “'i progressisti' are chomping to leap into the future, pounding their fists and shrieking 'basta', calling for progress like another round of gin. In voices more wistful, the other sect, 'i tradizionalisti', court the rituals, saying that the only true progress waits a few steps back into the past.” And as I reflect on the time I have spent in Italy thus far, I see examples of this separation and the Italians’ attempts to reconcile the two. In the world of the i tradizionalisti, time seems to stand still in some ways and evolve in others. Living in Ariccia and visiting towns such as Cortona and Assisi, it is easy to observe the routine of these peoples’ lives and imagine how little has changed over the years.
Even in the few weeks we have been here, our own daily routine has been formed in our daily walk to Palazzo Chigi for class. Our routine begins to intertwine with others as we retrace our steps each day. After bidding the hotel staff 'Buona giornata', we begin the walk in pairs of 2s and 3s and a few steps along the path wave to the man opening his Porchetta stand. While we have never been introduced to one another, he usually greets us with an enthusiastic 'Ciao' and big smile while sweeping his part of the sidewalk. Looking across the valley to the Mediterranean Sea while we cross the bridge, we pass a group of elderly men slowly making their way in the opposite direction. They are usually loudly laughing or arguing, depending on the day. A chorus of 'Ciao Bellas' surrounds us as our two groups make way for one another on the small walkway. Reaching the square, we divide to grab a quick cappuccino from the bar or a snack from the Fruterria before class begins. Erica eagerly beckons us to make our selections from her fresh display, anxious to practice her English while we try to communicate with our Italian. After laughing at our miscommunications we shout 'Arrivederci' on the way out the door. Dodging stereotypically small cars passing through the square, we’re off to class. Entering the Palace we’re sure to encounter Francesco and, if we’re lucky, witness him do a little dance before he disappears into his office.
While assuredly not Italian, habits such as these make this small town in the hills of the Castelli Romani feel like home to me and it is easy to see how those belonging to the 'i tradizionalisti' would choose to call it their home as well. Prime examples of those who have chosen to do so are our professors Marco and MaryLou Antonini. In their house, Villa Sole, you will find not only literally thousands of books, movies, and records, but also Marco’s ‘Museum’ of his own collection of important artifacts accumulated over the years. This eclectic compilation is located in a room above their large, modern theater style movie screen, making me marvel at the different things this house contains. It reminds me of Rome when you exit the metro and see the Coliseum in front of you or turn a corner shopping only to stumble into the Pantheon. Italy is surrounded by the past and while some yearn to move past it, others revel in keeping their history close with them. And as an adopted Italian for this short time, I enjoy it, too.
Although our weekends are packed full with itineraries to various destinations, we all agree that there’s nothing better than returning to Ariccia every Sunday. And at the risk of sounding cliché, it’s almost like a mini-homecoming every time we return; its familiarity and relaxing pace comforting to all. I think it would be easy to slip into life here, finding and creating our own mix of old and new. The possibility is alluring, tempting and maybe one day one of us will turn our habits of this spring into a reality…
Marco and MaryLou dancing in their home, Villa Sole
Walking the bridge to class
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