Florence celebrates Made in Italy by putting 'Fashion in Light' from 1925 to 1955

Running until September 28th in Florence at the Galleria della moda e del costume of Palazzo Pitti , 'Moda in Luce 1925-1955. Alle origine del Made in Italy' retraces the thirty years of history of Italian fashion that preceded its definitive international consecration in the 1960s. Curated by Fabiana Giacomotti , the initiative showcases over 50 items of clothing, accessories and documents that offer a historical snapshot of the evolution of a sector synonymous with excellence and vision. The heart of the exhibition is the extraordinary heritage of the Archivio Luce, which enriches the event with an important selection of previously unpublished photographs and video contributions.

Developed over a time span from 1925 to 1955 , the exhibition is designed to reveal how Italian style, characterized by textile innovation, aesthetic research, excellent craftsmanship and courageous commercial strategies, established itself before the famous 1952 fashion show at Palazzo Pitti. In addition to delving into the history of Made in Italy, also reconstructing little-known episodes, the exhibition invites us to question the evolution of taste, visual language and the national fashion system.

The exhibition showcases the creations of the leading Italian fashion houses of the time. This is the case, among others, of Ventura, Radice, Tortonese/La Merveilleuse, Gandini, Montorsi, Villa, Fontana, Palmer, Biki and Carosa . Alongside these, there are models by renowned stylists such as Maria Monaci Gallenga, Fortuny and Simonetta Visconti . Among the rarities, we point out a garment by Clarette Gallotti , the baroness of Italian high fashion who, inspired by the colours of her Capri, gave worldwide relevance to Made in Italy. There is no shortage of creations by brands that are still active and internationally recognised today and that were already protagonists in the fashion of the time.

The maison Gucci is on display with the 'number one', an exclusive evening bag dating back to the late 1920s. From the atelier of Salvatore Ferragamo comes the iconic 'invisible' sandal from 1947 while Emilio Pucci offers a selection of his first pieces signed 'Emilio'. Also on display are precious historical documents as well as fabric catalogues and rare books that contribute to outlining an original picture of the evolution of Italian fashion.

Among the video contributions on display is the restored version of the documentary 'Sette canne per un abiti', made in 1948 by Michelangelo Antonioni . Finally, a large section is dedicated to international fashion films that recall the mutual influences between Italian, French and overseas fashion. Promoted by the Ministry of Culture and produced by Archivio Luce Cinecittà in collaboration with the Uffizi Galleries , the exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published by Silvana Editoriale .