Polo De'Marco Magazine Issue No.23 | Page 127

the 18th century. The ASF is a high-craftsmanship factory in the heart of Florence, specialized in the production of silks and fabrics for interior designs, as well as, a limited selection reserved for the most exclusive items. As for the seasonality of the fabrics, they are renewed every six months. FR: Our father is a talented creative. He taught us how to recognize quality in every product since we were children. We learned the secrets of production by working with him, and we can say that we grew up in this universe; when we left school each day, we studied in our grandparents’ villa where the company was initially based. STEFANO RICCI was born there. Q5. In your boutiques, you have a unique signature item displayed which is the head of an eagle being used for instore mannequins. This lends itself to further intrigue while reinforcing STEFANO RICCI’s brand logo of the eagle. How and when was this unique design display created and first implemented? NR: The eagle’s head has been our icon for a long time, together with the SR monogram that has been used on our products since 1972. The eagle was chosen as an emblem of strength and pride and has accompanied the brand’s success worldwide. FR: A symbol of a soul’s royalty, the eagle expresses our brand’s values: honour, power and pride. Our clients identify with it, as well and have come to expect it as a visual emblem in all our products. Q6. The STEFANO RICCI factory is in Fiesole, Italy in the hills surrounding Florence, properly defined as an elegant workshop for fine craftsmanship. Explain please how Florence and its roots of excellence in history and culture, especially from the Renaissance period with rich advances in the areas of arts, sciences, and architecture have influenced the STEFANO RICCI brand. NR: I consider it a privilege to have been born and raised in Florence. It is a city that the world loves, and that has given us Renaissance masterpieces. The city is a constant source of inspiration for us; you just have to walk through the city’s streets to fill your eyes with beauty and harmony. We cannot forget that “Made in Italy” was born in Florence in 1952 with the first fashion shows in Palazzo Pitti, precisely in the Sala Bianca (white room). This space was closed to fashion shows for 35 years, but was reopened to celebrate an important STEFANO RICCI anniversary in 2017. FR: In reality, the Florentine tradition dates to the Middle Ages, when the city was host to many manufacturing Guilds, with the Wool and Silk Guilds being the most prominent. The Guilds were the source of the city’s Polo De’Marco July 2020