17-22 April, Milan

Patrizia will be returning to this year’s edition of the Fuorisalone Expo with the NATURE GOES TECH eco-installation, developed by A4Adesign; the attention-grabbing creation combines fashion, design and eco-sustainability, presenting a new take on a number of cult objects of contemporary design.
This exclusive partnership with A4Adesign, a leading eco-design company, is behind the original new take on Patrizia Pepe boutiques and window displays, to be found around the Expo. Furniture and furnishings will be given the same natural, hi-tech stamp as Patrizia Pepe’s Spring/Summer 2012 eveningwear collection, following a set of creative and playfully contemporary rules: indeed, the graphics and geometry of the fabrics will feature an eco-sustainable and uber-glam fusion of the shapes of the clothes and the lines of the iconic objects selected. In particular, the balance between nature and technology will be reflected in the shades, abstractions and geometry of the clothes, also shaping the outlines and forms of the furnishings recreated in honeycomb cardboard to create original 2D effects and differences in scale, in a multicoloured beat that jumps from mild tones to surges of colour and unexpected flashes of fluo. The NATURE GOES TECH project is another step forwards in Patrizia Pepe’s pursuit of unique and contemporary innovation, synergy and creative expression, in line with the company’s green vision and desire to make global lifestyles eco-friendly.

En route, it will be stopping off in Bari, Florence, Genoa and Milan from 25 March to 13 May. Our creative director, Patrizia Bambi, will be on the starting line at the Florence event on 1st April; as we’ve mentioned before, she loves to get involved in anything that combines both sport and good causes. The Avon Running Tour is for women only and champions social causes and solidarity through safe, healthy activity; but that’s not all, it is also a fundamental part of the Walk Around the World project promoted by Avon in the battle to beat breast cancer.

This focus on women is not just to champion sport, running in particular, as a key means of looking after our mental and physical health, it is also because the funds raised all go to women’s causes. By donating the proceeds of each event to associations working to prevent or cure breast cancer, and others providing support to the victims of domestic abuse, Avon has proved how serious it is about helping women. To date, Avon has donated more than €6,600,000 to causes like these.

So why not come along to the fantastic setting of Piazza Santa Maria Novella in Florence on Sunday 1 April; the square will be awash with pink specially for the occasion, hosting the Start, Finish and athletes village where you can register for the event and pick up your goody bag.

To register, donate €10 via the Avonrunning website, via fax, via bank draft or in several sports stores in and around Florence; more information is available on the event’s website (www.avonrunning.it). To take part, you will also need to have a certificate of good health.

There are two different events available: a competitive 10km road race or a 5km fun run for women of all ages and abilities. The winners of each competitive event will be invited to take part in the national final in Milan on 20 May 2012.

But that’s not all: at this year’s event, the third edition, the Premio Donna Città award will be presented to the woman who best represents the city and its values. Four women have been selected in Florence, from four different worlds (business, social, scientific and sports), each for having gained recognition in their respective sectors and helped to earn their city considerable prestige. Patrizia Bambi (our creative director) was picked in the business sector, Lucia Aleotti (member of the Board of Directors of the Menarini Pharmaceutical Group) in the scientific sector, Bona Frescobaldi (a long-standing promoter of the outstanding qualities of the region and its food and wine) in the society category, and Audrey Alloh (a Florence-based marathon runner, originally from the Ivory Coast) in the sports sector. To read more about them, go to www.avonrunning.it.

The awards ceremony will be held after the race, so click here to help Patrizia win!

Novel mixing and matching can often lead to unexpected and exciting results. Playing around with contrasts, like the Basic Shirt and the Maxi Swarovski Crystal Necklace, is what’s exciting us at the moment.

Women‘s day is 365 days a year: when lady workaholics jump through hoops to find time for a private life in between back-to-back meetings, when mums try to squeeze in some time for themselves after nappy-changing, burping and a thousand other things to do, when college and university girls have to find the motivation every day to go through book after book to inch their way that little bit closer to what seems like a distant goal, when wives, as well as being the perfect other half, try to find time to do the things they like doing alone, without feeling like they’re neglecting someone.

On this special day, just like every other day of the year, Patrizia Pepe hopes that women will love themselves, recognize that they’re worth it, and not wait for someone else to buy them a gift…. because no one will love you as much as you do!

Visit www.patriziapepe.com for a few ideas.

The other queens of the fashion scene , Ashlee Simpson, Kate Moss, Blake Lively and Olivia Palermo were quick to hone in on the new trend, snapped in yellow on a number of occasions.

Yellow is no longer just for dresses and suits though, as it is splashed across the Loiza Spring Summer Collection 2012 on tops, jackets and accessories.

Discover the Loiza Collection and become a Facebook fan.

What we would like to tell you about is the mood of the biggest day of the season…. the Autumn Winter 2012 Catwalk Show, in the words of someone who watched it all unfold from the inside….us!

People were working in the Hall to create the right set for the pre-show drinks… Our Flys and Butterflies provided a perfect glimpse into the theme of the Breakfast on the Moon Collection, fluttering towards the Planet.

At the same time, up on the first floor, half of the floor was caught up with hair and makeup, models and stylists engrossed in with getting the order of appearance just right as well as perfecting hair and makeup… OK, so the models are already naturally good-looking… but don’t think they don’t get a little extra help from makeup, lights…and most importantly, some very careful styling. They are often picked for how well their features fit with the themes of the Collection, rather than for their natural looks.

Downstairs, in the area used to stage runway shows, the set designers, sound engineers and light technicians were all working with the general production team to create the ideal backdrop for the Collection.. To tell the truth, the assembly team had already been hard at work for a week… and were at the final touches as the DJs (Hurley & Muscles) arrived, the airwaves echoing with the soundcheck underway.. and excitement rising everywhere.

Then it was time… the first guests were starting to arrive, and for the first time ever, the Italian Press was going to be in attendance whom, despite the Berlin Fashion Week happening at the same time, had decided this was an occasion not to be missed. The event started with pre-show drinks in the Hall, as we waited for Patrizia to put the final touches to everything behind the scenes, and before the guests could be invited to take their places around the catwalk.

Time to get started…

We won’t show you all the looks, just a small selection to give you a taste of what you’ll be seeing next season.

But we haven’t finished yet…. at the end of the show, the guests were transferred to Florence’s Stazione Leopolda, where the After-Show Party was to be staged. The fantastic Leopolda location was split into 3 eye-catching and connecting sets, staged by Deep Flowers and Catering Federico Salza; the first one hosted the drinks party, serving coloured alcoholic planets (balls filled with coloured vodka), the second was used for the seated dinner, where beautiful orchid arrangements hung from the interlunar space above, and the third for the disco, where a marvellous free bar in the middle (that looked like it had always been there) spiced up the evening and dance time for guests.

The leitmotif of Patrizia Pepe’s 2012 Autumn Winter Collection, the moon, followed our guests from start to finish, and provided the perfect ambience for a memorable evening.

Brand new at theDigital Boutique, and hot on the heels of Women and Loiza, the Mens’ Collection has arrived. For Spring-Summer 2012, the Mens’ Collection takes you on a trip through the chirpy, chic Parisian street scene to the silent calm of the sun-drenched sand dunes.

Sails and ships denote details and images, reflected also in the special treatments that give the clothes a faded look, almost as if they have been battling desert winds. The contemporary, chic looks are made up of urban fleece or memory polyester outerwear; jackets with mini contrasting fabric details, constructed tailoring or meticulous internal finishing; shirts with small collars, either striped, classic Oxford style or exclusive fabric mixes, with button down or Korean collars; slim fit, turn-up trousers, detailed belts and pocket flaps, in cotton gabardine or micro-patterned weaves.

To add to the effect are the specially-developed, garment-dyed effects, used for cotton rep parkas and field jackets, destructured knitted or natural fabric blazers, double pleat or chino construction trousers, raw cut jersey tops, genuine vintage denim jeans, stone-washed shirts and soft leathers or suede. Knitwear is fine, garment-treated cotton, designed in both fabric mixes and contrasting colours or linen, then given a contemporary touch thanks to the notably stylish models and finishes.

Accessories, gym shoes, crust leather lace-ups or boots, fine hats and scarves, bags and belts, all intended to give every look that extra edge. The colour palette reflects natural landscapes and dusty sand dunes, on a cream, beige, yellow, red and sea blue base with streaks of white or hints of colour, to create a fresh, easy-to-wear feeling.

The Collection that you know and love by the name of Only 4 Stylish Girls, will be getting a new name from Spring Summer 2012, and that name is Loiza.

The new Loiza collection is all about colour, its number one defining feature. Colour as storyteller, as the central theme, but also as a habit breaker and new style maker. Vivid new colours like crystal blue, curry, paprika, and sea green blend and contrast with warm neutral shades like sand, pink, beige, and lavender in a whirlwind of colour, energy, euphoria and iridescence. The construction of each item is done with the same pep, the super light and breezy fabrics caressing and cushioning the angular cuts. The leitmotiv is the art of origami, featuring the same minimal linearity and attention to detail.

A stylized swan becomes an exquisite, lucky-charm accessory of ineffably understated style and appeal, a decorative detail on belts, necklaces and bracelets. In the leather part of the collection, which includes eco, nappa and suede, mix fabrics alternate and combine with Ramage leaf-flower prints. Leather is also used as a detail on dresses and tops, or added as a micro-sequin-like decoration.

Cotton is the dominant cloth used in the casual pieces, embellished with flourishes of glamour, like jewel brooches. Special occasion wear features micro-pique, matt satin and macramé, with superlight weaves and a mix of linen inserts for carefree summer wear. Clever contrasting returns in the juxtaposition of Tricot-knit sheath dresses and soft, sexy draping. Soft-fitting openwork jacket. The diamanté-embellished jersey comes alive with leaf/flower "ramage" prints, and picture postcards depict fluo landscapes on the t-shirts.

The denim is ultra light and free-flowing. Indigo wash with shadow-effect coating, distressed wash jeans that are both skinny and palazzo pants.

Leather twists through chains and buckles in the accessories: pochettes, maxi bags, shoppers, hobo bags and clutches. The evening collection has been extended and made even more exquisite, whilst maintaining the versatility needed to mix and match with the daywear range. Silk, creponne chiffon, embroidered washed satin, printed georgette, shiny jersey and ultralight MicroModal. Jewel detailing teamed with prints, colour all-over sequins and lace, add the final touches to a multi-faceted collection, just like the colours of your mind.

Enjoy Shopping!

If you’re fed up with the same old accessories (hat, gloves, scarves, whatever…) Patrizia Pepe has an attractive gallery of alternative suggestions, now available at even more attractive prices, now that they are on sale.

Click each photo to read product, price (on sale), colour and size (where applicable) details, and in a couple more clicks, you can make them yours straight from the Patrizia Pepe Digital Boutique. And don’t forget that it doesn’t cost anything to return or exchange anything, ever tried it? … well, what are you waiting for then? … no time like the present!

For starters, this must-have range that never goes out of fashion… it’s winter-weight, warm and… well pretty thanks to the thick knit rib.

If you have a soft spot for fine knits, then our wool and cashmere range is the fullest, most indestructible, seriously chic and timelessly on-trend one there is…

On the leather front, and matching our best-selling bags range, are these nappa leather gloves…

Last but not least…if you’re an all-year round glamour girl, try the hottest look of the season, with its statement glitter effect, stretch mohair and sequin detailing..

We have always believed that as art forms, Music and Fashion, have a lot in common, complementing each other and creating the same buzz. A recent interview in one of music’s most cult publications provided further proof of our love and attention to both. Issue 100 of the legendary music magazine, Rolling Stone, that Patrizia Pepe worked with during the Pitti show, features a lengthy interview with Patrizia Bambi, Patrizia Pepe’s creative director.

Read the full text here.

Let’s start with the introductions. We tried googling you, but that didn’t return much information about you. Would you like to say a few words about yourself?

I am quite a private person, that’s why there is so little about me on the web. I prefer to keep my private life private, it gives me a sense of freedom. I am lucky, because I have a family that I adore, a wonderful son and a lot of friends. I love running and dancing, which I do as often as I can. I feel fulfilled because I love my job and I throw myself into it. I was born and still live in Tuscany, between Prato and Florence, in the perfect place to do what I have chosen to do: the local textile industry and art city helped me to achieve the success that I have in my professional life.

As your creative self, are you more of a collectionist or a revolutionary?

Both. On the one hand I’m a collectionist, because I believe history must be preserved. On the other, I feel impelled to break new ground in fashion. Only revolution, however small, can bring innovation.

How much does the creative place you work in influence you, and how much do you influence it?

I influence my surroundings, not the other way round. My organisation is a fantastic place. Colourful, open spaces. Even though it is a hive of frenzied activity inside, it is never a tense place, because everyone is enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. Your surroundings should make you feel good while you work.

Would you ever live or work in another city? If so, where?

Yes, either in Paris or New York. I have a house in Paris, but I never manage to get there as much as I would like.

Fashion and music are two forms of creative expression. What do they mean for you?

Music is part of me, it affects my mood, it affects my emotions, a lot sometimes, which is why it kindles my creativity. Fashion, like music and all other art forms, has the power to break down barriers, push boundaries and bring people together.

If you were to compare your work to a singer or a group, who would you be?

I don’t see myself in anyone in particular, but I would love to have been David Bowie. The ultimate fashion icon. His style inspires me more than any other rock star… he’ll never go out of fashion. It’s that kind of glam rock that I look at when I’m sketching the menswear range. The man that I see in the current collection, is as perfectly poised and at ease in the chirpy, chic Parisian street scene as the silent calm of the sun-drenched sand dunes.

In this issue, we celebrate 100 issues of Rolling Stone Italy. What albums or songs do you think have made the history of Italian music from the 1960′s to today?

Celentano with 24mila baci and Yuppi du, Morandi with Fatti mandare dalla mamma and Non sono degno di te, Mina in 1971, Emozioni by Lucio Battisti, Fabrizio De Andrè’s Volume I; Opera Prima by Pooh; Questo piccolo grande amore by Claudio Baglioni; Siamo solo noi by Vasco Rossi; Lorenzo Raccolta 1990-1995 by Jovanotti; Mentre tutto scorre by Negramaro, Luigi Tenco in 1962 and Battiato in 1986… or maybe I should say Laura Pausini?

At the VFNO last September, you enlisted Royksopp to cover your DJ set for the evening. Who would you like to guest DJ next time?

Will.i.am

What does being a rockstar in 2012 mean? Can you give us an example?

Looking back, charismatic figures like David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix and many more come to mind. Just think how they used to live life on the wild side, how they could fill stadiums and parks, and how their fans used to cry and scream. Their voices could send people into raptures, their guitars, the way they moved on stage, and they way they were in general. They wrote the soundtrack of a generation that wanted to change the world, and which in part, succeeded. Nowadays I don’t see any of that in the music industry. To find a real rock star, you have to look to the past. Rock stars nowadays don’t have the same image, and their whole persona is more in tune with the current climate. They are often busy organizing concerts for poverty-stricken or oppressed nations, or victims of natural disasters, and this is a credit to them, obviously. The only artist in the last decade that behaves like a star is probably Madonna. Lady Gaga, in my opinion, is just a copycat star… with very cleverly constructed celebrity status, with all due respect to her undoubted artistic talent.

What does being a rock star mean in the fashion world in 2012? Can you give us an example?

Being a rock star in the fashion world means “shaking up” style conventions. Being unconventional, exciting, putting together something sensual that at the same time is powerful, aggressive and head-turning, revealing signs of a troubled soul. Something that I have always tried my very best to do. To my mind, there are currently two leading lights of the fashion world, and both for different reasons: Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfield, although they are not rockers. Which means that I am going to have to become the new rock star!

We have to ask this… If you hadn’t become a designer, would you be on a stage somewhere now?

Yes, but as a dancer. It’s still my secret wish, given that my other one, to become a designer, has come true.

We’d love to hear the playlist you listen to at work.

Supertramp (Paris), Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Angie (The Rolling Stones), Ziggy Stardust e Space Oddity (David Bowie), The Cure, Roxanne (The Police), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pensieri e Parole (Lucio Battisti), PFM, Gunbs’N'Roses, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Skunk Anansie, Billie Jean (Michael Jackson), Linkin Park, Muse, Cesària Evora, The Church (liahhman Levi), Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix), Bob Marley, Corazon Desperado (Carlos Santana), Smooth Operator (Sade), Grace Jones, Blondie, Velvet Underground, Because the Night di Patti Smith, Dove ho visto te (Jovanotti), Amadou & Mariam, Green Day, Subsonica, Negramaro, Kasabian and Voglio farti un regalo from Fabri Fibra’s Mr. Simpatia album, in which he makes a “friendly” reference to me! Very bold …

Your 5 favourite clubs around the world.

Soho House in London, the club on the 18th floor of the Standard Meatpacking District in New York, the Silencio Club in Paris recently opened by director and artist David Lynch, and the Lux Fragil in Lisbon. If we could turn back time to the late 1970′s, early 1980′s, I would definitely have to say New York’s Studio 54.