FASHION WEEK
The thirteenth edition of AltaRomAltaModa will be divided up between two locations representative of two culturally significant moments.
On the one hand, S. Spirito in Sassia, a 12th century building and, on the other, the Auditorium, an example of modern architecture. A metaphor to express the stylistic evolution of an event that embodies the ambition of cultivating the various expressive facets of contemporary creativity. A rich, versatile event given over to catwalk shows, “fashion in town” featuring the creations of young designers exhibiting in art galleries and collateral events consisting of an unusual fusion of various art forms.
Alta Roma continues to commit to maximizing Italian High Fashion and to the preservation of a heritage of excellence and superior craftsmanship that represent Italy throughout the world.
As usual, famous couture houses of the calibre of Balestra, Curiel, Gattinoni, Riva and Sarli will present their creations together with those of the second generation represented by Ettore Bilotta and Michele Miglionico. And then again, Edward Arsouni, Tony Ward and Abed Mahfouz from the Lebanon and the return of Marco Coretti to the Roman catwalks.
One of the highlights of the event is the ‘Who’s on Next’ competition, a scouting project now in its fourth edition, created and organized by Alta Roma in collaboration with Vogue Italia. This unique, exclusive competition, represents the never ending search for new talents likely to make a name for themselves on the international fashion circuit. Nine finalists selected from the clothing and accessories categories and a jury of international celebrities from the industry. This event, by now a reference point for the search for new trends and designers, serves as an important occasion for young talented stylists to gain exposure and link up with the fashion industry.
The AltaRomAltaModa happening, currently reputed one of the most important and prestigious events by the fashion community, will be even further enhanced by a series of cultural projects that embrace different art forms consistent with fashion. First and foremost, the exhibition “Pasquale De Antonis. La fotografia di moda 1946-1968” coordinated by Maria Luisa Frisa which Alta Roma has decided to promote. De Antonis was a man of many talents, not only a fashion photographer but also a portrait photographer, a documentary film maker, a photographer of the theatre and works of art. Alta Roma decided to support this project, in order to reawaken public awareness about the enormous artistic value of this photographer, credited with having documented the birth of Italian fashion.
Several international new entries, attracted by the uniqueness and appeal that Rome, with its immense heritage culturale, represents: Galit Levi from Israel, Aina Gassè from the Ukraine and the up-and-coming designer Graziano Amadori. But also the fashion shows of Céline Faizant, a creative interpreter of “new luxury” consisting of organic, ecological and ethical clothing and Bisrat Negassi, a French designer of African origin. Two French brand labels, the result of a happy twinning between Rome and Paris which, thanks to the collaboration between Alta Roma and the Salon du Prêt-à-Porter, will strengthen and enrich international creative exchange.
And, again, the third foray into the Tricot–Couture project with Saverio Palatella, an Italian designer and one of the most highly sought after interpreters of knitwear, an abstract, malleable and elusive material which he enhances with artistic interpretations. And then again creative, experimentally advanced textile research which finds another prestigious designer in Bianca Maria Gervasio with her conceptual and volumetric style.
Ethical Fashion, the solidarity project stemming from a partnership between Alta Roma and ITC (International Trade Centre), the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations and WTO (World Trade Organization) continues. An important guest who will talk to us about her 20 years’ experience in the dissemination of industry-related social responsibility and the safeguarding of the environment. The British designer will take part in the presentation of the first prototypes created by Alta Roma and ITC and will act as the patroness of this launch.
An original workshop amidst videos, speeches and surprise events.
As confirmation of its social vocation, Alta Roma will host the final stage of the training course ‘Il Filo che Unisce', a competition on ethical and eco-friendly fashion which aims at highlighting the creative and symbolic relationship between fashion and nature, beauty and art, thus promoting a new reality of the fashion industry, with a view to safeguarding both the environment and the individual.
As proof of Alta Roma’s ongoing commitment to contemporary artistic works and the safeguarding of all those technical and artisan skills that have made “ ‘Made in Italy” products and Italian style’ famous throughout the world, two original, captivating exhibitions. Bottega Veneta with its anthological exhibition KNOT - A RETROSPECTIVE, a journey through the famous working techniques of the ‘knot’ with a selection of icon bags. This itinerant exhibition, inaugurated in Milan, during the Furniture Fair and subsequently staged in Cannes, will now be on display at AltaRomAltaModa to celebrate 30 years of the bag, the symbol of the maison. A famous name that represents the essence of top-of-the-range Italian craftsmanship abroad. And then a mix between design and fashion in the accessories exhibition inspired by design objects and the polaroids taken by the architect and designer, Carlo Mollino. Design lines that have not only made history but which have also served as inspiration for the young talented finalists of the accessories section of the past editions of the competition Who is On Next, set against the innovative backdrop of the Museo Pietro Canonica, in the heart of Villa Borghese.
Also worth particular note on this year’s events calendar is a tribute to the fifty year career of Mila Schön’ in the industry. The designer who knew how to interpret the contemporary requirements of her time by translating her haute couture into sophisticated prêt-à-.porter and introducing Italian fashion to the American market. Jacqueline Kennedy and Marella Agnelli were among some of her most regular clients. It was, in fact, thanks to the dress designed by Mila Schön that, in New York, in 1966, the latter won the WWD prize for the gown that she wore at Truman Capote’s White and Black Ball. Alta Roma pays tribute to the stylist with a docu-film specially created for the occasion and directed by Antonello Sarno.
Alta Roma’s second production, after “Schu, le Grand Créateur” dedicated to Emilio Schuberth, this work is part of a series of short films dedicated to the promotion and diffusion of awareness about those people and those trends that contributed to laying the foundations of Made-in-Italy fashion.
The last day of the fashion week will be dedicated to training with the Accademia di Costume e Moda, the Accademia Altieri, the Accademia Nazionale dei Sartori, the Accademia Reale, the Istituto Superiore di Design, the Accademia di Belle Arti Lorenzo da Viterbo, the Ida Ferri Fashion School and, finally the Accademia Koefia.
Creative interpretations aimed at demonstrating an ongoing evolution and the inexorable search for style which, Alta Roma, true to its mission, will be promoting with a rich calendar of unique events as proof of its relentless attention to contemporary artistic aspects and the safeguarding of all those technical and artisan skills that have sealed the fame of ‘Made in Italy fashion and Italian style’ throughout the world.