Until January 20, the Fashion Museum in Riga hosts the masterpieces of great Italian designers
The Fashion Museum in Riga, Latvia, is currently hosting a breathtaking exhibition. The Museum’s permanent exhibition boasts the precious works of Alexandre Vassiliev’s exceptional collection, one of the largest private collections of fashion costumes and accessories in the world. This is now on show side by side with ‘From Fortuny to Versace. 100 Years of Italian Fashion,’ which includes masterpieces created by Italian fashion designers during the 20th century, and there is no shortage of raids in the early 21st century.
Italy has been a fashion trendsetter since the Renaissance. At that time, Venetian, Florentine, Genoan, and Milanese silk fabrics, especially, the expensive and splendid velvet, were the most coveted and costly goods. Even when Paris had become the capital of fashion, Italy was still tempting and inspiring. Today, Italy is widely recognized as the most stylish country in the world. And its fashion center – Milan – is one of the world’s fashion capitals alongside Paris, London, and New York. The Fashion Museum’s exhibition, open until January 20th, marks the road from the beginning of the 20th century, when the brilliant artist, inventor, and fashion designer Mariano Fortuny worked in Venice, to the sensational arrival of Gianni Versace.
Today, Italy is widely recognized as the most stylish country in the world. And its fashion center – Milan – is one of the world’s fashion capitals alongside Paris, London, and New York.
This exhibition offers the opportunity to understand the changing trends in fashion throughout the past century. It tells the fascinating history of how Italy slowly managed to emerge from the shadow of Paris, to renew its previous reputation as the sovereign country of fashion and create an economic miracle. A miracle based on the success of fashion and design, and the combination of modern business methods with ancient traditions and strong family ties.
Ilona Catani Scarlett