Angelo Ruggeri of Sergio Rossi talks shoes, frocks and Sicily
The collection and design director of Sergio Rossi talks about how time and maturity have made a difference to his design philosophy, and why he would love to visit Rio de Janeiro. "My family's relationship with fashion spans generations. My grandmother was a seamstress, my mother a teacher and my father used to own a store for fabrics which he inherited from my grandfather. So it's a long family story involving fabrics, fashion and couture. One of my favourite memories has to do with my grandmother. I remember a fancy embroidered black evening dress that she made for one of her clients, who was attending a fashion event. You can imagine with these influences that by the age of six, I already aspired to be part of the fashion world.
"My family's relationship with fashion spans generations. My grandmother was a seamstress, my mother a teacher and my father used to own a store for fabrics which he inherited from my grandfather. So it's a long family story involving fabrics, fashion and couture.
One of my favourite memories has to do with my grandmother. I remember a fancy embroidered black evening dress that she made for one of her clients, who was attending a fashion event. You can imagine with these influences that by the age of six, I already aspired to be part of the fashion world.
My home, Sicily, has a special energy and colour. It's something that I express unconsciously through my style. It's an island culture full of archaeological sites, art and influences from different countries.
When I left school, I was more interested in creating clothes with special effects. When people start work, their immediate goal is to make something new and innovative. But now that I have matured with time, I understand that everything in fashion has already been done.