Image: SSENSE
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Italy’s importance within the fashion landscape cannot be ignored. When the nape of a garment beholds a "Made in Italy" label, it immediately tells a story - and a captivating one at that. It becomes, at once, a garment to be revered.
But this story is not confined to the singular piece, or the even the make or brand itself. Whilst Italian fashion brands are undoubtedly the hottest tickets in town come Fashion Month, this particular tale runs a lot deeper, with an entire country’s manufacturing history read aloud with every fibre.
Italian construction is, after all, renowned the world over with countless family-owned printing mills and factories producing wares not only for home-grown talent such as Versace, Bottega Veneta or Prada, but for their high-end rivals including Chanel or, even more unexpectedly, the seemingly All-American Ralph Lauren. Italian origins are an immediate signifier of luxury, craftsmanship, and detail and, if the clothes maketh the man, the same could therefore be said of the person in it - or so we dare to dream.
But regardless of the illusions of grandeur we may possess the moment we slip into our immaculate Gucci horse-bit loafers, there is nothing illusory when it comes to the quality of anything and everything Italian.
And as plenty of us make the shift towards fewer, better quality and better made pieces in a bid to save our soon-to-be-scorched planet, you’d better believe that we’re searching for the pieces proudly listing Italy as their home.
With this in mind, we’ve reviewed the current season offerings from some of the most illustrious Italian labels, to highlight the star pieces most deserving of your investment.