Fashion thrives on innovation. Whether they are gentle souls or rebels, a new generation of rule-breakers world-wide is lighting the way forward for a better industry for tomorrow.
Right on cue, we caught up with creatives and entrepreneurs Massimo Pepe, founder of 5 Progress, and Daniele Macellari behind the Giovanna Nicolai's brand, asking them to share what working with Istituto Marangoni alumni on two capsule collections has given them back.
The debut of the Young Designers project, promoted by Istituto Marangoni and Csm-Camera Showroom Milano during the latest Milano fashion week, was a one-off success.
Here, we met the school’s up-and-coming designers, who told us about what gives them pride in their practice and their tips for anyone hoping to be part of the next project edition.
Just take a quick look at these video interviews to see how these forward-looking brands were fed by change and reinvention when they discovered emerging names such as Valentina Banfi, who graduated in Fashion Design & Accessories in 2020, and Paul Majer, a Fashion Design alumnus since 2021.
Fashion is not for you, it's for all
Owner and founder at Giovanna Nicolai, Daniele Macellari, discusses the concept behind the 'Embassy of Freedom' brand: inclusiveness seems to be the key theme, which is also close to alumna Valentina Banfi's heart.
So, when they teamed up, they decided to honour eclectic and versatile personalities, making people feel confident and proud of themselves, no matter what their outfit or style.
Based in the Marche region, the Giovanna Nicolai brand was undoubtedly the best choice to represent this innovative idea through tailoring and craftsmanship, a byword for Italian excellence.
A touch of glamour to be at the forefront of fashion
Launched in 2015 and 100% Made in Italy, 5 Progress was tapped to be the right company to make Paul Majer's creations a reality. With a balance of vintage and high-end pieces, the brand aims to be “affordable luxury”, creating total looks from desk to dinner.
Watch Massimo Pepe, Founder and Creative Director, introduce his business, the people behind it and their work with Paul Majer. He changed the way they thought about fashion and, in doing so, he helped define the Company's future.
Pepe pointed out the value of sketches and style references as part of the Company's cretaive process and told us how Paul Majer's work added an extra touch of 'glamour' to the existing collection, with functional details making the capsule even more appealing.
Silvia Tarini
Editorial Team