MILANO (AP) — Italian designer Stella Jean returned to the Milan Runway on Saturday, seeking three years of absence in his collection with Bhutan artisans and the appeal of seeking more political support for the well-known class of artisans who give it that advantage to gorgeous fashion.
“I told you I’d come back when there was something I wanted to say,” Jean said behind the scenes.
The charm of the artisan
To protect the cultural heritage, Jean has long supported global artisans with collections combining textiles, artistic details and clothing sourced from traditional artisans with Italian tailoring.
Now she says, “Italian craftsmanship is almost dying.”
To maintain the artisans, Jean called on Italian lawmakers to give the same financial break recently awarded to Artworks to truly incredible artisanal skills. She said this would encourage more customers to invest in the portion that could take a year to complete.
Breaks mean that consumers pay less VAT and ensure that the artisans are paid the same way.
“The artisans are already not paid much, so we can’t pay them less,” Jean gives the final touches on the behind-the-scenes model, so “Otherwise, this craftsmanship can only be seen in museums. If we don’t wear it, it’s useless.”
Bhutan’s craftsmanship
The Bhutanese artisans collaborated with Jan on works that included traditional hand-woven Tego jackets worn on silk printed dresses, elaborate embroidered skirts made from nettle fibers, and traditional hand-woven Tego jackets, including rugby shirts and a silken dress with beaded panels depicting the village scene.
Jean’s front row VIP was the artisan she worked with, dressed in traditional outfits.
Armani Tribute
Jean made his Milan runway debut in 2013 at the Armani Theater, a guest of Giorgio Armani. She paid tribute to the late designer at the runway show by spreading out the t-shirt she wore for that premiere.
“We can’t be here without respect, and this is also a sign of respect for people who are not alone because of debt,” she said.
“This gentleman has made Italian fashion the most important thing in the world.”
