Press Release, November 6th 2008 For information or photographic materials: info@ilarianiccolini.com Ilaria Niccolini Production Announce: and Regione Lombardia FTL MODA-EUART at the Villa Reale in Monza, Italy, for a prestigious preview A very prestigious international preview took place on October 30 th at the Villa Reale in Monza, Italy, with the patronage and support of Regione Lombardia. A preview that combined fashion, arts and culture, thanks to a partnership between public institutions and the private sector that, for once, has worked well. FTL MODA and EUART have thus launched the Italian segment of an international event already at its second edition, that aims at providing a shot of energy to the prestige and economic value of high quality Made in Italy production. FTL MODA and EUART hosted about 300 guests, including artists, fashion designers, celebrities, representatives of government institutions, entrepreneurs and news reporters, in the magnificent setting of the Villa Reale, with the stunning decorated ceilings and the famous wooden floors by Maggiolini of its recently restored left wing. The Lombardy Region councilor for Cultures, Autonomies, and Identities Massimo Zanello with the producer Ilaria Niccolini and fashion designers Lorenzo Riva and Nino Lettieri. On the left, CEA Scuole's Cristiano Gatti There exists a kind of beauty that manifests itself both in the unstable equilibria and in the appearance of objects. It reveals to us the eternity of everything. It is a pure beauty, not a nihilistic one, it is the soul of all things beyond their appearance. With these words the sculptor Ignazio Fresu has celebrated the opening of this space, while installing his works to create a sophisticated choreography for the fashion exhibition that followed, with the musical background provided by the strings quartet of the Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano orchestra. An artistic fashion walk, cadenced by the rhythm of the solo violin alternating with the quartet, a voluptuous and highly inspiring walk... not only because of the colors of the spring/summer collections of the great names Luciano Barbera, Lorenzo Riva, Renato Balestra (with their beautiful tone plays, their sinuous and comfortable shapes, their sophisticated and minimalistic designs, their superior finishing whose quality is apparent in the tiniest details), but also on account of the unusual combination of the most exquisite fashion pieces with contemporary sculptures and paintings, all in the eighteenth-century setting of the Salone delle Feste. And unusual was also the juxtaposition of leading names in fashion with the fresh and innovative proposals of Marina Mansanta, Henry Thomas, Connie Accessories, and Nino Lettieri whose high fashion creations donated a few dream-like minutes to all the ladies in the audience. The Florentine painter Silvano Picchi welcomed the guests with a creation specifically dedicated to the event: an M
symbolizing Moda, Milano, Monza and Miami, a gold and black miniature that was then donated to the Lombardy Region councilor for Cultures, Autonomies, and Identities Massimo Zanello who strongly wanted and supported this project with passion and foresight. Another important salute came from New York (location of the next preview event) with a message by the Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in New York, Renato Miracco, who sent his thanks and best wishes to Councilor Zanello and to all the guests who attended for their participation in this project to establish a bridge between Italy and the US. And finally, the stirring and historically accurate cinema of director Renzo Martinelli was recognized during the evening with an exclusive preview from the backstage of the new movie, still in production, about Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. Almost six minutes of gripping scenes from perfectly rendered medieval history, followed by a very special display: the original costumes from the movie (worn on the set by lead actors Raz Degan, Kasia Smutniak, Rutger Hauer and Cecile Cassel), brought to Monza by costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini for the occasion. Top: Luciano and Carola Barbera with director Renzo Martinelli. Bottom: a scene from the Marina Mansanta show. We cannot fail to mention, among everything else, the great contribution offered by Zeo Baldi and his team, who donated fabulous hair styles and makeup both for the fashion shows and for the medieval costumes display. Finally, we should acknowledge the precious help offered by the event partners: CEA Scuole, A2A Energie, Colombo Arti Grafiche, Allevamento di Zenzalino, Immun'Age, Mondonico Arredamento da Giardino, Zottarelli Salotti, Vision Plus, Iran by Baladi Mahamood, and the honorary consul of Ivory Coast in Milano Mr. Franco Iseni.
The opening of the fashion show with a Lorenzo Riva creation.
A scene from the Renato Balestra show.
Nino Lettieri's bride.
A model by Henry Thomas Firenze with the first violin of the Pomeriggi Musicali orchestra. The Luciano Barbera collection.
Middle: co-producer Mari Zattra with Leonardo Boriani, director of La Padania A scene from the backstage: a sofisticated Renato Balestra dress with a custom from the Barbarossa movie
Top: director Renzo Martinelli with costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, producer Ilaria Niccolini and a warrior from the Barbarossa movie. Zeo Baldi preparing a costume. Middle: backstage group photo with the original costumes from Barbarossa by Sartoria Tirelli in Rome, who kindly lent them for the Monza event. Bottom: costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini between two of the wonderful medieval costumes created by Sartoria Tirelli in Rome.
Well, there was a little bit of everything for everyone... a cultural evening of a kind that we would love to see more often, to celebrate Italian excellence in the world, and with a very clear goal: to support scientific research against diabetes, and in particular the Diabetes Research Institute in Miami, directed by another example of Italian excellence, Prof. Camillo Ricordi. The appointment for the full event is for the end of May 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, with FTL MODA 2009! FTLMODA.COM