A celebration of old things, those that give comfort to a child, those kinds of memories that play the role of a shelter—these were the main themes of Marco Rambaldi’s latest collection which he wanted to tell the story of an adult who struggles to face daily life and for this reason finds refuge in a fairy tale world. His moodboard showed characters such as Pippi Longstocking by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Rambaldi said this specific reference was a way for him to talk about topics he always really cares about, such as feminist activism. He said the final aim of this collection was to showcase all the difficulties of asserting oneself in different contexts.
Thus, the garments bore the signs of these battles, but also a desire for lightheartedness. Rambaldi’s signature crochet—a clear symbol of the past reworked to become something new—was widely used in different forms: with Swarovski crystals for an upcycled and unconventional wedding gown; overlapped on leather and tulle for leather jackets and lightweight shirts; or as a contrasting ornament, mostly used for the “fake” layering effect of ample pants and knee-long skirts. This knitting technique also became a decoration for patchwork-like leather pieces such as chocolate-tinged pencil skirts. Leather, in the form of long strings, was the main material for intertwined proposals like an intricate tank top.
Prints from the ’50s were meant to play the role of re-signifying old patriarchal codes to their complete opposite: self-confident women who express their sensuality. The floral and striped slip dresses nonchalantly worn with the top softly resting on the hips and paired with heart-knitted sweaters, were the clearest example of this approach. Among the accessories, the Vienna straw bags decorated with wooden beads and made in collaboration with the Italian artisanal brand Rosantica really stood out.
