Jacopo Colimodio works in the fashion field as a fashion designer. After studying at the IED in Rome, he moved to London to continue his studies in the field at Saint Martins.
He’s passionate about art and design collecting, which often leads him to travel around the world to grab some unique and rare pieces. He shares this passion with his husband, Pietro, and together they want to fill with particular objects their house, which will soon be photographed for a photo shoot.
We had a pleasant conversation with Jacopo Colimodio about his experiences and opinions on the fashion world.
Let's talk about memories. How was your experience in London? Have you had any other similar experiences abroad?
The London experience was unforgettable and unrepeatable. I lived in a house in Shoreditch, as I was studying for a Master's degree at Saint Martins. As soon as I had some free time, I would go to Dover Street Market or to art galleries. There, everything was extremely new and interesting, I was constantly surrounded by creative and free people, art and fashion, a constant stimulus. Years later, I still often go to London and hope it doesn't change. I have visited many other places: almost all of Europe, part of China, the United States, Istanbul many times, but the only place that gives me similar emotions and stimuli is Antwerp.
Since you are passionate about collecting, especially design, why did you choose to work in fashion?
I started my studies in Architecture, which is still an essential passion in my life, along with art.
I chose fashion for its dynamism. It is constantly changing, but always coherent with one's own vision, dealing with the global market, the needs, and using the potential of Italian craftsmanship at the same time. However, figuring out how to develop ideas industrially has always been a challenge I have enjoyed to tackle.
I like it when clothes help to express one's way of being.
If you could create your own garment, what and how would you do it?
I often think about creating my own brand and a couple of times I've come close to it, but I don't think it’s the perfect time yet. I'm very attracted to the aesthetic of the early 90s: the end of hedonism and the beginning of Grunge, the years of my childhood… I guess I would mix these two suggestions.
I still don't know what shapes I would focus on, but I am obsessed with shoulders, rolled up sleeves. The construction or deconstruction of that part of a garment is in my opinion the key element to create a shape, tell a story and a way of feeling.
I like it when clothes help to express one's way of being.
Is there a union between your passion for collecting and your idea of fashion?
There is a very close link between collecting rare or special things and fashion.
It's always about research - I like to understand the concept, what the artist, architect or stylist wants to say with an artifact, whether it's a painting or a coat.
What do you think about the future of fashion?
The current historical moment is complex, we must be brave and competent.
The needs and the lifestyle of those who follow fashion are radically changing and the duty of those who work in this field is to understand these changes, but I believe it's very far from being in decline.
Sustainability is a moral duty of the industry.
Do you believe that sustainability in fashion can revolutionize the sector?
In some ways, fashion is an ever-changing sector, even though it is often very static in some of its processes.
The transition to sustainability is a moral duty of the industry. I am very happy and curious to experience this change.
Entrepreneurs who have understood this and are taking actions in the right direction, are visionaries.
In your opinion, what is the best and the most difficult thing about being a fashion designer today?
The aspect that I suffer most, at times, is confronting myself with superficiality and ignorance. The "improvised" are the ruin of the industry.
The beautiful aspects are many. One above all, perhaps, is the excitement of the backstage at the fashion shows, with that mixture of fatigue and "butterflies in the stomach" at the same time.
Any suggestions for future fashion designers?
Study, always, throughout your life.
Always look for the different way, even for one small detail that makes the difference.
We all belong to a group, but you have to be its disruptive element.
Is there a collector's item you would absolutely love to add to your home decor?
At home I love to mix and match things that apparently have nothing in common, but are actually linked by an almost elusive underlying concept.
At this time, I would like to have the Harp Chair by Jorgen Hovelskov (picture) and an incredible "Sant'Andrea" from the 17th century Neapolitan school, which I saw some time ago in an antiquarian.
Two very different and historically distant items but, in my opinion, linked by the same tension.
In January 2014 you published a book, Ties. Why did you choose ties as the subject?
The Ties project was born by chance: I was living in Rome and by chance I met some vintage collectors who had boxes and boxes full of ties.
Intrigued and amused, I started buying some of them, because I liked the prints or the colors... now I have about a thousand.
The book came spontaneously, the question was "what am I going to do with all these ties now?" I will publish them!
In fashion and design, the comfort zone is to be "cool".
As you know, for us ‘to dare’ means leaving the comfort zone, what does it mean to you?
In fashion and design, the comfort zone is to be "cool".
All dressed alike, all wearing the same brands, all living in identical houses with the same objects taken from the same places, surrounded by recognizable status symbols.
In my opinion, it is fundamental to get out of this way of being, I want to be different, accepting the risks… which, in the end, are not such.
Jacopo Colimodio is putting together various garments from his closet, thus forming an archive of unique pieces. You can find them at the following page.
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