Where are you from?
I was born and raised in the town of Foggia South Italy, in the Puglia region to be exact. After high school, I left home to continue my education and moved to Florence and Milan to attend a university for architecture.
Where do you live now?
Mainly in Italy Milan and Puglia.
Tell us a bit about your background?
After university in Milan, I met several fashion designers and started a new career as a fashion model. I walked the runways in Paris, Milan, New York, and Tokyo and suddenly the world opened up and offered me exposure to what I never experienced. Japan was fascinating for me to its history, culture, and sensibility which completely captured me while realizing that fashion was and is my passion. While on this life journey, I started a new chapter of my life by accepting a position as an assistant designer with Issey Miyake. All was clear to me, fashion designing was my passion and with my newly formed family I moved to New York after Paris where my next career was born; it was there that I formed very prestigious relationships under my new eponymous brand. My retail and professional partners included local and international companies such as Barneys, Kashiyama, Gianfranco Ferre, Fendi and more. Today my career and life include shuttling between Milan, Paris, NYC and Puglia while concentrating on my new project/brand …. “Sartorial Monk” which is all made in Italy for both men and women…
How would you describe the style of Sartorial Monk?
It is an esthetic … sophistication; my soul, my emotions run deeper and deeper. Sartorial Monk is the convergence of southern Italian sartorial traditions, combined with Far Eastern purism and fluidity. Sartorial Monk is the soulful imprint of elegance; the freedom of deconstructed shoulders over voluminous pants, archetypal fabrics for avant-garde shapes, and perfection without restrictions.
How to create a visual and emotional journey through my designs? The collection is composed of the most luxurious Italian fabrics and combined with the sartorial southern Italian mindset. Whether day or night, black or white, joy or pain, these are the weights utilized on my personal scale. I balancing and transforming the negative into positive. Minimalism and sensuality marry in order to transform an emotion into a garment. Sartorial Monk is the unique reimagining of the classics.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
From my emotions, poetry, art, everyday life.
What do you think are your career highlights?
Definitely Sartorial Monk as a concept and collection.
How do you engage with your followers?
It is a message from my heart and soul with each collection. I have a fashion message which cannot be confused with what would be considered trendy. I offer unique and classic collections in their own way. It aimed at those who march to the beat of a different drum when it comes to how they present themselves. These acolytes are not of the sheep variety, they do not follow … they lead! In life, we make a choice just as in fashion… Sartorial Monk is for those who wish to stand out albeit without a spotlight shining on them.
What are your biggest accomplishments as a designer?
Transforming emotions into garments.
Where do you usually like to go to chill/take a drink/party, dance?
In Milano, I like very much the “aperitivo” around 6 pm. I prefer quiet evenings with friends or a good book. Dance whenever I can I absolutely love it.
What is your favorite place to travel?
No doubt Sumba Indonesia
