Contrary to other European countries, where industrialization changed the ways of life by post-war companies, Italy remained a place of local and specialized industries with long artisan traditions. These design-focused companies were small and mostly family owned, but that didn’t last too long as Italy quickly became a leader in art and design and grew out of its own shoes.
Since the birth of the “Made in Italy” movement in the late 80's, Milan has become the global capital of the world's leading designers, trendsetters, and avant-garde thinkers. With a dizzying array of shops, the golden city of fashion offers more than meets the eye.
Milan s 'Quadrilatero D'Oro', running from the hip Via Monte Napoleone to the trendy Via della Spiga, is the most diverse and surprising fashion district. From Prada's concept store to Armani's temple, Bulgari's hotel spa to Dolce & Gabbana's flagship shop, the entire wealth of the contemporary fashion market can be foreseen.
Milan is a city of change, a creative capital and symbiotic hub where industries merge. Furniture makers, designers, and architects give way to the most creative collaborations where the world of fashion melts with that of hospitality, wellbeing, and even consumer electronics.
Only in Milan can one get a spa treatment designed by Bulgari, a cappuccino branded by Armani, champagne at Roberto Cavalli's restaurant bar, and sleep in at the Moschino hotel. It is also in Milan that some of the most surprising of products and fashion trends on the market are found. The entrance of Prada in the world of consumer electronics with the ultimate fashion accessory and mobile phone, the Prada KE850, comes in line with Dolce & Gabbana’s all encompassing concept store, with the opening of a martini bar, a barbershop, a restaurant and the recent showcase of Ron Arad’s latest furniture, alongside their latest collection of fashion and accessories.
The Luxury Lifestyle agency in Milan, with a collection of latest Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung mobile phones covered in Swarovsky crystals by the most skilled local craftsman, will be launching the new ‘Crystalphone’ in the most upscale fashion shops and jewelers of the city. Even more surprising are brand extensions such as Versace designing new helicopter interiors and Ferragamo’s new collection of furniture created to suit the tanks of the newly launched Maserati Gran Turismo. For Armani, fashion becomes all encompassing. With its flagship store on the Via Manzoni, food, clothing, cosmetics, interiors, flowers and soon a hotel, merge into a temple of style. This is the new “Made in Italy.”
Every city in Italy possesses a “know-how.” Venice is where glass is mastered, Ravenna where mosaics are produced, Torino where craftsman and manufacturers lead car industries, and Milan where these talents meet and branding becomes a global vision. A city of cross-pollination between the arts and designs, Milan shows the new “Made in Italy” to be a spectacular movement. As a turntable of creative collaborations with a focus on local craftsmanship, the “Fatto in Italia” of today is the result of unusual anecdotes, friendships, mixed talents and the excellence of its synergies: inspiration, creativity, know-how, and innovation.
The Bulgari Hotel and Spa in Milan www.bulgarihotels.com
The new Prada KE850, combines design and functionality with its multimedia features such as camera, mp3 player, video and touch sensitive screen www.prada.com
The Crystalphone by Luxury Lifestyle www.luxurylifestyle.it
