Mr. Silvano Lattanzi, owner and designer of Silvano Lattanzi
What have been the key historical features of Italian fashion in the period since World War II?
The mythic charm that Italian fashion still holds comes from the skills and the creativity that some talented craftsmen put in the manufacture of travel trunks and small leather goods generations ago. Remember that Italian fashion was officially born in Florence in the 50’s in the wake of the world-renowned fame earned by two great leather craftsmen: Guccio Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo. I always say that anyone who knows how to manufacture leather, can do anything in fashion, because leather is a very rigorous and demanding material, the processing of which requires arm strength and accuracy in your fingers through which leather is sewn with the help of a small needle. That's why at that time, and in the following years, those characters who had acquired great skills and good taste in making bags and suitcases found it natural to include the design of fabrics and tailored clothes with results that soon overtook French haute couture.
Are there aspects of Italian accessoriesdesign that you regard as especially or distinctively Italian?
What have always characterized us in fashion and design in general, have been the choice of the quality of raw materials and the packaging techniques along with the creativity of forms, colors and materials. I cannot say that this is part of our genetic heritage, but I think it is the consequence of a cultural aspect: we Italians are extremely curious and we love to travel ... Now, in this regard, without disturbing Christopher Columbus, I would like to explain how I, Silvano Lattanzi, became a shoemaker and after 40 years of experience, about 15 years ago I’ve launched my first luggage and leather goods collection.The decision, taken in 1993, to start making travel and leather goods was not the result of a marketing strategy, but nothing less than a real personal need: my trolley, after a decade of efficient service, needed to be replaced, but the Milan craftsman who had made it was old and had retired, and none of the objects I bought successively had really satisfied me. This was why one evening in the workshop, I began to draw the model of my old trunk. Then I cut out the various parts from that same Bulgarian leather that I used for my shoes. When I went to Boston to visit one of my regular customers, I put the shoes collection that I wanted to show him in my (in all senses, this time) new trolley. I came back to Italy with the first leather goods order in my hand: a complete set of luggage to be made in a special shade of alligator leather, the "walnut root" color, to match the interior design of a Rolls Royce. The knob of the gear stick of the prestigious car was sent to me as a reference for the precise color shade
What are the main centers of Italian accessoriesdesign and manufacture?
There are towns in Italy where the manufacture of leather is part of the history of the town itself. I do not want to harm anyone by citing a name rather than another but I can simply say that cities such as Bologna, Florence, Parma and Milan are always a good point of reference for anyone who loves prestigious and important objects.
What is the role of your own company, Silvano Lattanzi, in the Italian footwear and leather accessories industry?
Look, I do not want to answer this question talking about marketing or future figures. In my laboratory in Italy, the raw material enters the factory and what come out is a finished product, be it a shoe or a valuable travel bag that the customer has designed himself. What my company represents and what my finished products represent is a ethical role, rather than commercial one: the role to preserve some ancient rules of processing of leather, while respecting the environment around me and the memory of those who were our masters .
What are the most important current trends in Italian accessories, and Italian fashion in general?
There is a very positive trend for this industrial sector. Bags have become an indispensable accessory even for the most conservative man. With the entry into the market of smart phones and tablets what was an aesthetic affectation has been transformed into a real need. Increasingly, we receive orders by clients with their particular needs. The woman also confirms this trend: the bag is not only a status symbol, but an object to store and pull out of the closet with pride even after many years. That's why ladies are increasingly paying attention to quality and craftsmanship.
What trends in Italian fashion design and manufacturing do you foresee in the next few years?
I do not think that there will be a different trend either for men or for women. But I think we will have a less marked line between what is "elegant for the evening" and what is considered "day-wear." All this will be beneficial for designs that can easily go from a business lunch to an evening opening with the same ease of people like Alain Delon in the Cote d'Azur 40 years ago.
