June, 23rd – September, 2nd 2012 Palazzo Morando – Moda Costume Immagine Via Sant’Andrea 6 Milan
A project by Federico Poletti By Giusi Ferrè, Angelo Figus and Federico Poletti
Dear iDEALS, since Saturday 23rd of June, during Milan men’s fashion week, “MAGLIFICO! Sublime Italian Knitscape” exhibit inside Palazzo Morando made its debut.
Maglifico! is a surprising and original scenario revealing all aspects of knitwear, creativity and production, in fashion and everyday life. It’s a tribute to Italian talent, focused on creating the most imaginative and difficult knitted masterpieces and the unique ability to transform designers’ experimental creativity into projects that can be produced on large scale as well as “unique” items. What arises is a sublime panorama of Italian know-how spread through our regions, productions, yarns and companies that are flagships of Made in Italy in the world, alongside creations of the most important international designers and brands.
The common theme connecting all these extraordinary pieces will be the Italian production. It is not a coincidence that most of the top quality production of knitwear is manufactured in Italy by companies with a long history and experience passed on from one generation to another.
"Following a thread (to find salvation) like Ariadne in Minos labyrinth. Locate the thread that secretly links different thoughts. Lose the thread and stop in the middle of a speech – but it is better to find it and pick up quick. Showing that exceptional things comes from a thread: the knitting of a thousand lives and infinite aspects, representing the most sensual and ductile spirit in fashion: the thread of creativity".
With these words Giusi Ferrè summed up symbolically the sense of the initiative.
Following “Unravel Knitwear in Fashion”, the big event held last year in Antwerp there’s the need to retrace the growth of a creative industry, that continues to play an important role in fashion history and in the society. In the past two centuries just like a big mirror of the times, knitwear showed us how versatile it can be, “pop” and “couture” at the same time.
Through critical times and subject to the ups and downs of fortune, knitwear has never disappeared, continuously present in many designers fashion collections. In the latest years a new interest for knitwear has flourished, interpreted by established brands as well as young designers, fascinated by the infinite possibilities in processing and interpreting.
“With this exhibition – states Federico Poletti – we want to send signals to the fashion industry, accompanying the audience through a unique and exhilarating experience. Through the scenery designed by Angelo Figus the visitor will be guided into a huge three dimensional loom which introduce to a pathway of themes, moving forward in time and back into the old days. From the rough material to the actual yarn, from yarn to design, from design to emotion, from the emotion back to the material.”
Within the exhibition, a special area is dedicated to yarns, particularly Merino Wool, a versatile noble fiber with a natural origin. The exhibition reveals the infinite possibilities of wool, naturally entwined to knitwear. A thousand year history has marked the most significant moments of the evolution in lifestyle and fashion. Wool, a material with ancient roots, has been on men’s side for 10.000 years, with all its several benefits. 100% natural origin, eco-friendly and renewable, wool is today incredibly fine, soft and offers particular performances, through manufacturers commitment and the most recent technological innovations.
The Woolmark Company, a brand symbol of the best wool in the world, has decided to support this project and will be present inside the exhibition with a special installation, created by Angelo Figus, to celebrate wool and the memorable brand Woolmark. A byword for excellence, passion and innovation, Woolmark identifies Merino wool coming from Australia, as the most precious and subtle. The initial part of Maglifico! Italian Sublime Knitscape reveals a tight relationship between the Italian industry, a pioneer for quality and innovation, and producers of Australian Merino wool. A perfect and excellent interaction between Australian breeders and the most important Italian spinners, to enhance the potentials and the intrinsic preciousness of this fiber.
The different areas inside this exhibition reveal wool’s versatility, inspiration of well known names in fashion as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Missoni, Vivienne Westwood, Sonia Rykiel, and other new innovative designers like Paolo Errico, Boboutic, Henrik Vibskov and Aimo. Richly, just to name a few.
Stuart McCullough, CEO of The Woolmark Company confirmed: “We are very proud to support projects as “Maglifico!”, to contribute to consumers education and at the same time inspire fashion players, to celebrate Merino wool quality and highlight the excellence of Australian wool industry”.
“Maglifico! Is a visionary and playful trip through “Made in Italy” knitwear. An amusing and illuminating experience through colour, technique, volume and invention. It celebrates the skills of giving a shape and consistency to ideas of designers from all over the world. Knit one purl one. A knitted garment is a contemporary and generous attitude that blends energy and ideas, poetry and mathematics, strength and tact. Knitwear is transversal, it combines, it widens, it is not tight and it does not reject. The exhibition is an informal communication, to play with, transforming into something else.
The themes, connected to visual inputs and contemporary atmospheres, explain more than half a century of Italian excellence generously shared with the world. Maglifico! Is a compliment, a wish. Maglifica Italia! And happy knitting everybody!” ends Angelo Figus eclectic designer and creative consultant that invented the name of the exhibition.
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