MODA
1900
This issue of La Civetta focuses on the evolution Italy has undergone since the student-orchestrated uprisings of 1968 which took place at least in part due to the social shift that occurred following the second World War. As Italian politics changed, so too did the Italian fashion industry – one of the most lucrative in the entire world. Even before the events of the summer of ‘68, fashion had long been a vast part of the cultural heritage of Italy. It was recognised simultaneously for its ease but also for a certain attention to detail that allowed it to burgeon.
1900
The first of the ‘modern’ Italian fashion houses such as Gucci and Prada gained a strong interest from tasteful customers the world over by producing luxury leather accessories such as belts, bags and shoes. This popularity was soon welcomed by other historical labels such as Fendi during the 1920s, celebrated for their work with furs. However controversial, the tradition continues to this day, almost 100 years later.
La storia delle dinastie
What I find to be admirable about fashion in Italy is the respect for tradition and family.
Houses like Prada are equally as celebrated for their accessories today as they were all those years ago. Nowadays for their “Nylon” bags, based on the designs of the leather goods that made them famous all those years ago.
Miuccia Prada, granddaughter of the brand’s founder, Mario Prada, assumed the mantle in 1978 and continues to strive for the same innovation and craftsmanship as her grandfather. The same can be said for Gucci, where the brand’s creative director, Alessandro Michele, has revitalised the leather accessories for an entirely new generation. These fashion enthusiasts will be familiar with the ‘Dionysus’ bag, monogramed slides, and fur-lined leather slippers with countless serpentine appliques and the label is flourishing as a result of this newfound popularity. These brands have been a mainstay of the Italian fashion industry since time immemorial and the appreciation they have for their own heritage allows them to adapt and evolve in the quick consumer culture that we experience today.