Italo Zucchelli (born June 4, 1965 in La Spezia, Italy[1] is an Italian fashion designer, the Men's creative director of Calvin Klein Collection from 2004 to 2016.[2] Designated by Calvin Klein to take over the men's wear in 2004, Italo Zucchelli is credited for amplifying the brand's minimalism and "Americanism".
Italo Zucchelli | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 June 1965 |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
Biography
editItalo Zucchelli studied architecture in Florence for two years, and then studied design and style at Polimoda, graduating in 1988.[3]
After working in menswear for Jil Sander and Romeo Gigli, he received a call from Calvin Klein inviting him to work on the brand's women's collection. He worked with the team for 3 years.[4] When Calvin Klein left the company in 2004, Zucchelli was promoted to Men's Creative Director of Calvin Klein.[2]
As of February 2015, Zucchelli had organized 30 CK collection shows.[5] In April 2016, as the company decided to assign men's and women's collections to the same designer, Italo Zucchelli left Calvin Klein.[6][7]
Design style
editItalo Zucchelli's first exposure to the CK brand was in 1982 with the ad of the brand displaying a young man wearing just underwear, a first at the time.[3] Inspired by the "clean American" look of the brand's models and wears, Zucchelli continues the Calvin Klein tradition of formalwear with a slight athletic touch to it.[8] He gives an equal attention to the design of its clothes and to the choice of models that wear them, as he says they embody the spirit of the brand.[9] According to him, the "Calvin Klein guy" is strong, masculine, healthy, built, good-looking: "very American".[4]
Italo Zucchelli has been often noted for using unique materials in his designs. He used foam from bicycle seats which he displayed at his 2009 show in New York.[10] He also created a tuxedo jacket made of the synthetic rubber Neoprene.[4] This plastic approach to the fabric has been tagged by Canadian fashion critic Tim Blanks as "sublime futurism".[11] Some of his work is colorful, like the red fluorescent suit exhibited at the 2009 NY Show,[9] or the bright-colored leggings inspired by Australian surfers and revealed in 2007.[4]
Zucchelli's 2015 fall collection was inspired by the book Sex and Suits by Anne Hollander.[3]
Awards
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Alexander Fury, Calvin Klein redefined American masculinity, but Italian Italo Zucchelli has brought it bang up to date, Independent.co.uk, 19 March 2016
- ^ a b "Calvin Klein's Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli: From Primetime to Auction Time." Fashion Windows, April 21, 2009
- ^ a b c Alexander Fury, Ciao, Italo: Alexander Fury Considers Italo Zucchelli’s Legacy as He Exits Calvin Klein Collection, Vogue.com, 2 April 2016
- ^ a b c d Italo Zucchelli on Calvin Klein Men’s, Wwd.com, 2 April 2015
- ^ Lindsay Talbot, Well Traveled: Italo Zucchelli, Men's Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection, Cnntraveler.com, 1 February 2015
- ^ Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli Are Leaving Calvin Klein, Vogue.com, 19 April 2016
- ^ Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli Are Out at Calvin Klein, Nytimes.com, 19 April 2016
- ^ Out100: Italo Zucchelli, Out.com, 11 November 2013
- ^ a b Italo Zucchelli's Decade at Calvin Klein, Out.com, 3 September 2013
- ^ Yuan, Jada. "Italo Zucchelli Introduces New Fabric, New Lingo at CK Men’s." New York Magazine 15/02/2009 Web.28 Apr 2009.
- ^ Pierre Alexandre de Looz, BoF Exclusive | Italo Zucchelli's Sublime Futurism — Part II, Businessoffashion.com, 9 February 2012
External links
edit- Models.com: Italo Zucchelli June 15, 2009
- Italo Zucchelli at FMD