Interview with Designer Marco Calzolai

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Interview with Marco Calzolai – Designer from Milan

Marco Calzolai
www.marcocalzolai.com

Marco Calzolai’s Textile Business for generations. Recently, he developed his own denim “Tracce di te”. The special thing about this collection is the stuff.

A few questions to the designer.

I’ve heard that you’re a self-taught. What did your passion start?

With black and white. (laughs). No honest. Black and white films have inspired me to look for something else.

Is it true that you have your first company founded with 22 years?

Yes that’s true. I particularly liked the school and not have started with 15 years to work in a small textile company. My father and two other partners belonged to the company. But he treated me like any other worker. Regardless to take. I was working 11 to 12 hours a day, even on Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays. It was a hellish work. I persuaded my father and asked him to believe in me. I was 22 when we made our own. While having a lot of debt in the luggage, but with lots of creative ideas in my head.

Your powers of persuasion were successful as you can see. Your materials are now world-famous. Can you tell us something about it?

I wanted to create something that was different. Novel materials, other designs. After a year of hard work and many learning processes I was finally able to make the kinds of textiles that are still using a lot of big, important labels today.

Foto: Marc Evans Photography for Marco Calzolai, Model: Michaela Živnůstková

And this method did you use for the Jeans Marco Calzolai?

Yeah. The first jeans I have developed with the designer Ermanno Scervino. It was such a success on the market. I decided to apply this procedure for the whole collection. It is different and extraordinary and that makes it so special.

Credit: Marc Evans Photography,Model:Michaela Živnůstková,For Marco Calzolai Garden of Eden

Armani, Dolce e Gabbana and Versace are just a few of his loyal customers …

These designers and many other fashion icons use my special materials. That pleases me very much.

What’s the deal with New York about? I’ve heard some of your works were exhibited at MOMA length.

My first job in the field of interior designs was very challenging, but incredibly beautiful. I have developed a substance which was three-dimensional “Notturno a New York”. After the design of Gaetano Pesce and his company Cassina. It was a wonderful project and incredibly exciting.

And so it happened that we now find yourself on furniture?

After working with Cassina I have directly implemented by 60 beds for a well-known nightclub. The architects, who should set up the restaurant, wanted to do something unique. When she saw my technique, they were thrilled. That was a lot of fun.

Credit: Marc Evans Photography, Model:Michaela Živnůstková, For Marco Calzolai Garden of Eden

Which artist / designer inspired you or inspired you?

In the 80s and 90s it was definitely Gianni Versace. He was incredible. His designs were never the same. Always exceptional and full of emotion. Should be such as fashion.
Nowadays it is difficult. Many small brands have disappeared and others are run by big companies. Thus, the fashion and design differs barely. Which is a shame really.