THE “CLOWNS” OF ALBINI

ALBINI’S “CLOWNS” TURN THE RAINBOW INTO FABRIC.

Italian prêt-à-porter lies behind this evening dress, with a pattern of rhomboid drawings set on a background of black.  Walter Albini, who draws his inspiration from Saint Laurent, is the creator of this model. “Take a close look at “The clown”, (emblematic name of the dress) – says Gloria Bianchino – “especially the lozenges”.

In the past, these lozenges were entirely created by hand.

Albini instead wanted to realize them with appropriate machinery and opted for accessible luxury.  He was a great anticipator and for this reason the “Fashion” section of the San Ludovico Gallery revolves around him.

The precursor of Armani has created suits, accessories, drawings, sketches, fabric and colours that rotate in the air (some are suspended in the air and held by strings) recalling a Fellinian oneiric carousel.

The fashion sector is permeated with a “happy high-spirited and colourful” atmosphere” as it is firmly focused towards recreating the spirit of time, rather than documenting it in an unemotional way.

The researcher recalls:  “For years we have been gathering all kinds of materials like drawings, pictures and models and we filed them according to a well thought – out arrangement.

On display, magnificent wedding dresses and numerous tributes to Chanel’s intuition, as well as rare models created by Valentino, Krizia and the Fontana sisters.

The exhibition will also expose visitors to accounts related to the important transition, in the Italian fashion sector, from Couture to prêt-à-porter, of which Albini is the undisputed protagonist.

A special corner is reserved for Archizoom, the group of Florentine architects and designers who deconstructed traditional architecture during the Seventies to explore more radical and pop architectural styles, which better reflected the new era.