My name is I t a l o. It is a name that defines who I am as well as my heritage and birthplace. I am a first generation Italian born and bred in the beautiful city of Como, Italy, surrounded by its magnificent lake, mountains, nature, and of course Art. This environment affected my sensibility and from an early age I developed an innate sense of color, form and composition, which I applied to my love of drawing and making art. In high school my passion for art expanded beyond paper and pencil. I attended the Institute of Silk Technology “Paolo Carcano” where I became skilled at translating color and art through fabrics such as silk and cotton from initial concept to finished product. I found my direction as a way to combine my passion for art and love of fashion and pursued a career in textile design. My artistic talent and vision enabled me to quickly enter into the professional world and I secured a position with Giussani Tessuti. In this period before the advent of computer technology textile design was accomplished by hand, the creation of a concept on paper with ink, the visualization of that concept in color, the selection of materials, the screen engraving or the loom weaving, followed by the fabric finishing. I continued on this path until another opportunity entered my life, one that changed my direction in a way I never could have imagined. In 1990 Mantero (one of Italy most prestigious and established mills) gave me the opportunity to move and work in New York City. I never left. In the past 25 years I have become a New Yorker and yes an American citizen; in my soul I am an Italian, in my mind a New Yorker. My background encompasses the past, the present and the future, invaluable experiences and an innate personal vision and style that allow me to create designs beyond my imagination. From designing and coloring thousands of lines, managing millions of patterns, marketing, presenting and selling to retailers in areas as diverse as sportswear, formalwear, accessories, dress shirts and even underwear. Without hesitation I can definitely state that menswear is my expertise, my love, my life. I hope to share with you my work an thoughts to inspire you, as I too was inspired a long time ago through the beauty of a city named Como.
Fun retro geo patterns I have designed for Spring/Summer 20. Can be digitally printed on wovens for shirting, knits for t-shirts, cotton for shorts, lycra for swimwear
Brooklyn Brigade sparks conversation with story-telling prints to create awareness through fashion. Home to over 25% of all marine fish, the “Coral Reefs” Spring Summer 2020 collection encapsulates the extraordinary ecosystem that protects our shores. All the prints (designed and colored by me) are related and inspired to/ from the coral reef environment. Brooklyn Brigade is proud to support the Coral Reef Alliance as a Guardian of the Reef.
Two of my favorite pieces from the Brooklyn Brigade collection summer 2019. They work well together in one sporty look. Oh and the light bomber is totally reversible
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