September 5, 2011 |
FROM THE VAULT (SUMMER 2011)
NAME: Maria Grazia Chiuri.
OCCUPATION: creative director.
CURRENT EMPLOYER: Valentino.
FIRST JOB IN FASHION?
“A women’s shoe collection for Lamos, a small Italian company.”
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
“During my final year of school at IED [European Institute of Design] in 1986, the company saw my work and asked me to create a collection.”
FASHION IS…
“My passion.”
DO YOU EVER WEAR YOUR OWN DESIGNS?
“Of course!”
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
“Travelling, films, books, art expositions – everything I see can be a source of inspiration. Living is inspiration.”
DO YOU HAVE A MENTOR? A MUSE? WHO/WHAT ARE THEY?
“Anna Fendi was my mentor. Affectionately speaking my muse is my daughter; professionally, many women are sources of inspiration and I am happy when they choose our clothes! Florence Welch, Alexa Chung, and so forth…”
WHAT IS GOOD DESIGN?
“Something that lasts over time and represents a historical period; something unique.”
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST DRESS? SHOW?
“The first dress that I remember in my life was a trouser suit I made for a Barbie! Professionally I remember when, in 2002/2003, we began the young REDValentino line.”
WHAT’S VULGAR?
“Poor manners.”
HAVE YOU EVER BANNED ANYONE FROM YOUR SHOW BECAUSE OF A BAD REVIEW? WOULD YOU?
“I believe that we all have to do our jobs, and in any case, criticism can be constructive.”
by Natalie Dembinska
Photograph by Andre Wolff – www.andrewolff.com
