THE WORLD OF ACCESSORIES AT WHITE MILANO
Research, quality and practicality come together in products from historic Italian labels and emerging brands alike. A huge scouting effort among relatively new labels that need a platform launch to reach a wider audience and a selection of high-profile buyers. Fabio Rusconi, from Marche (a southern Italian region famous for shoes, does Tod’s ring any bells?) , has been making shoes since the late 90s and stands out for his ability to present a classy lady that doesn’t love frills but is looking for a cool and perfectly crated shoe. His best-sellers are the woven leather ballet flats, ankle boots with midi heels and and squared pumps. The family-run brand Gavazzeni, whose specialty is the belt, was founded in Franciacorta in the late Seventies and is now in its second generation; its belts, bags and accessories are the result of choosing premium quality leathers with sleek design and well chosen metal details. A passion for strong and refined design is what defines Maison Etnad, a Spanish bag brand that looks to today’s independent women for inspiration and adapts its designs to the raw materials, rather than the other way round. Melip is an Italian brand but has a Scandi-Japanese style; its handmade leather bags have lines that follow the curves of the female body, with soft, reassuring shapes. Meanwhile, Polish label L37 Handmade Shoes looks to another trend: customisation, which it does with footwear handcrafted using materials and details (including embroidered monogrammed initials) chosen directly by customers.
Vintage imagery is as alive as ever, whether it’s the tango-inspired handmade luxury models by Lenora Scarpe, romantic and comfortable for dancing or simply walking; or the now-iconic Fracap boots with hiking hooks, handmade by the Cappello brothers, whose family tradition began in Monteroni at the turn of the twentieth century. Lastly, it’s reassuring to note that style is increasingly associated with ethics. Pipatchara, high-quality Italian leather bags, are enriched by the woven details handmade by artisan communities in Thailand, where the two sisters behind the brand were born. A return to ancestral creativity, using simple materials for a more conscious consumption is the ethos behind Good People, a label offering ethnic bags made from natural fibres, which supports a range of women’s communities around the worlds. A similar philosophy inspires Made For A Woman by Eileen Akbaraly, set up in 2018 with the intention of helping women in Madagascan rural villages that produce beautifully raffia products.
Part of the accessories selection and present with a special installation is the brand Salar, a cool emerging brand for bags. With a genuine rock and roll edge, Italian handbag brand Salar isn't afraid to blend bold vibrant colors, embellishments and styles to create truly unique designs for a confident wearer. Born in Milan in 2010, brand founders Salar and Francesca combined their passion and ability to create this experimental and iconic label whose essence is to blend traditional Italian quality and materials with hard hitting design. Each piece speaks for itself in a daring, strong and elegant way.
A look wouldn’t be complete without the extra touch of gloves, scarves (life saving tricks for the coldest season) and jewellery. For instance, Falerio Sarti is an iconic 90’s brand of scarves; first created in 1991 and prolific ever since, with their endless artistic imagery they have become a symbol of poetry and whimsical creations.
PIN 1876 by Botto Giuseppe embraces the family’s tradition in the yarns sector, stretching back over a century, and pours it into an exquisite range of accessories, 100% Made in Italy. Chic and daring, the leather gloves of by Aristide – a French brand that only works with elegance in mind- are delicate and refined. Add a shiny touch with enamelled jewellery by Francesca Bianchi Design: colourful geometric designs encapsulate the goldsmith’s tradition through the eyes of a young creative.
