Interview :
Lestat : Who is Giuseppe Virgone ?
Giuseppe : I'm 31. Originally from Brussels, Belgium where I studied at la Cambre visual arts school. I now work between Lille, Northern France and Brussels.
Lestat : How did you start your career ?
Giuseppe : In actuality, fashion felt like the right direction for me. I did a couple of interships at Gaspard Yurkievich, Delphine Murat. Then I collaborated with Antwerpian boutique RA presenting my début collection that sold like hotcakes.
Lestat : What's a working day like ?
Giuseppe : Usually starting at 11am. I work alone. I spend alot of time building up a universe for each collection, you know, research, development... Currently busy sketching for the next collection, looking for new materials, embroideries.
Lestat : Who/what inspires you ?
Giuseppe : Italian director Romeo Castellucci mostly. Also Greek mytholgy and the way it entertwines man, animal and nature. I'm inspired by the human body, thowt and tragedy as well. And to some extent, the one who shares my life.
Lestat : How was the process of this season's collection ?
Giuseppe : The collection drew its inspiration from religion and Girolamo Savonarola. This controversial 15th century figure can be regarded as a muse by he who creates, likes power, lust, tribes and ceremonies as well as messages, thruth and lies, vanity or death. In my opinion, a powerful man is, in the first place, a man. That's why I wanted to transform this body and its cassock into something chimerical, dissected, heavy and fragile at the same time. Even though the body looks subdued, it must be considered as lighter and taller -which by the way explains the format of the pictures below. Jewels accentuate the subdued side of the garments whilst exposing the wearer's vanity. The garment also represents his craving for power and his loving for contemporary poetry. The fabrics are burnt, as if the woolen yarn got damaged. The clothes are then turned into rawhide and associated with supple materials. I used zippers to express the way this religious or political soul escapes from the body. This collection is entitled "Accords brisés " ('Broken agreement') because it exactly portrays the story of Girolamo Savonarola. The color palette is resolutely dark. But I do like color and patterns. I just didn't want any of them in it.
Lestat : What are your projects ?
Giuseppe : Getting married with kids and dog.
Lestat : Is love important to you ?
Giuseppe : Very important, it builds us up.
Lestat : What do you wear to bed ?
Giuseppe : Boxer shorts.
Lestat : Do you spend much time on the Internet ?
Giuseppe : I do.
Lestat : Answer the question you'd like to be asked.
Giuseppe : Who's this Girolamo Savonarola ? He was an Italian Dominican friar and preacher active in Renaissance Florence and known for his prophecies of civic glory and calls for Christian renewal. In 1495 when the city refused to join Pope Alexander VI's Holy League against the French, Girolamo Savonarola was summoned to Rome. He disobeyed and further defied the authority by preaching under a ban, highlighting his campaign for reform with processions, bonfires of the vanities and pious theatricals. In retaliation, the Pope excommunicated him and threatened to place the city under an interdict.
Lestat : Who is Giuseppe Virgone ?
Giuseppe : I'm 31. Originally from Brussels, Belgium where I studied at la Cambre visual arts school. I now work between Lille, Northern France and Brussels.
Lestat : How did you start your career ?
Giuseppe : In actuality, fashion felt like the right direction for me. I did a couple of interships at Gaspard Yurkievich, Delphine Murat. Then I collaborated with Antwerpian boutique RA presenting my début collection that sold like hotcakes.
Lestat : What's a working day like ?
Giuseppe : Usually starting at 11am. I work alone. I spend alot of time building up a universe for each collection, you know, research, development... Currently busy sketching for the next collection, looking for new materials, embroideries.
Lestat : Who/what inspires you ?
Giuseppe : Italian director Romeo Castellucci mostly. Also Greek mytholgy and the way it entertwines man, animal and nature. I'm inspired by the human body, thowt and tragedy as well. And to some extent, the one who shares my life.
Lestat : How was the process of this season's collection ?
Giuseppe : The collection drew its inspiration from religion and Girolamo Savonarola. This controversial 15th century figure can be regarded as a muse by he who creates, likes power, lust, tribes and ceremonies as well as messages, thruth and lies, vanity or death. In my opinion, a powerful man is, in the first place, a man. That's why I wanted to transform this body and its cassock into something chimerical, dissected, heavy and fragile at the same time. Even though the body looks subdued, it must be considered as lighter and taller -which by the way explains the format of the pictures below. Jewels accentuate the subdued side of the garments whilst exposing the wearer's vanity. The garment also represents his craving for power and his loving for contemporary poetry. The fabrics are burnt, as if the woolen yarn got damaged. The clothes are then turned into rawhide and associated with supple materials. I used zippers to express the way this religious or political soul escapes from the body. This collection is entitled "Accords brisés " ('Broken agreement') because it exactly portrays the story of Girolamo Savonarola. The color palette is resolutely dark. But I do like color and patterns. I just didn't want any of them in it.
Lestat : What are your projects ?
Giuseppe : Getting married with kids and dog.
Lestat : Is love important to you ?
Giuseppe : Very important, it builds us up.
Lestat : What do you wear to bed ?
Giuseppe : Boxer shorts.
Lestat : Do you spend much time on the Internet ?
Giuseppe : I do.
Lestat : Answer the question you'd like to be asked.
Giuseppe : Who's this Girolamo Savonarola ? He was an Italian Dominican friar and preacher active in Renaissance Florence and known for his prophecies of civic glory and calls for Christian renewal. In 1495 when the city refused to join Pope Alexander VI's Holy League against the French, Girolamo Savonarola was summoned to Rome. He disobeyed and further defied the authority by preaching under a ban, highlighting his campaign for reform with processions, bonfires of the vanities and pious theatricals. In retaliation, the Pope excommunicated him and threatened to place the city under an interdict.
