1925-1955 Fashion in the Spotlight. The origins of Made in Italy
The exhibition reconstructs thirty fundamental years in the history of Italian fashion, crucial years led Italy to excel in textile innovation, aesthetic research, excellent craftsmanship and commercial strategies, laying the foundation for the future of Made in Italy.
A fascinating exhibition journey with over fifty items of clothing, accessories and audiovisual and photographic contributions that tell a time span between 1925 and 1955, intertwining little-known episodes with legendary names.
On display works by historic Maisons – some of which have disappeared – such as Ventura, Radice, Tortonese/La Merveilleuse, Gandini, Montorsi, Villa, Fontana, Palmer, Biki, Carosa, alongside famous names such as Maria Monaci Gallenga, Fortuny, Simonetta Visconti, and a very rare piece by the “Tessitrice dell’Isola”, Baroness Gallotti. There is no shortage of signatures that are still known today but were already active in the period: Gucci, which presents its “number one”, an evening bag from the late 1920s never exhibited, Salvatore Ferragamo with the “invisible” sandal from 1947, and Emilio Pucci, on display with the first pieces still labeled “Emilio”.
The garments and accessories on display come partly from prestigious museums and partly from corporate or private archives.
At the heart of the exhibition is the extraordinary heritage of the Luce Archives, with an important core of photographs and films. There are many unpublished works from the 1940s and 1950s by great directors and sound designers such as Romolo Marcellini and Roman Vlad. The exhibition also features the restored version of the documentary “Sette canne per un vestito” (Seven reeds for a dress), made in 1948 by Michelangelo Antonioni, and many foreign fashion films that alternate with Italian ones up to the early 1940s.
Photo credits: Emanuele Antonio Minerva e Agnese Sbaffi ‐ Ministero della Cultura
Photo credits: Uffizi Galleries
A fascinating exhibition journey with over fifty items of clothing, accessories and audiovisual and photographic contributions that tell a time span between 1925 and 1955, intertwining little-known episodes with legendary names.
On display works by historic Maisons – some of which have disappeared – such as Ventura, Radice, Tortonese/La Merveilleuse, Gandini, Montorsi, Villa, Fontana, Palmer, Biki, Carosa, alongside famous names such as Maria Monaci Gallenga, Fortuny, Simonetta Visconti, and a very rare piece by the “Tessitrice dell’Isola”, Baroness Gallotti. There is no shortage of signatures that are still known today but were already active in the period: Gucci, which presents its “number one”, an evening bag from the late 1920s never exhibited, Salvatore Ferragamo with the “invisible” sandal from 1947, and Emilio Pucci, on display with the first pieces still labeled “Emilio”.
The garments and accessories on display come partly from prestigious museums and partly from corporate or private archives.
At the heart of the exhibition is the extraordinary heritage of the Luce Archives, with an important core of photographs and films. There are many unpublished works from the 1940s and 1950s by great directors and sound designers such as Romolo Marcellini and Roman Vlad. The exhibition also features the restored version of the documentary “Sette canne per un vestito” (Seven reeds for a dress), made in 1948 by Michelangelo Antonioni, and many foreign fashion films that alternate with Italian ones up to the early 1940s.
Photo credits: Emanuele Antonio Minerva e Agnese Sbaffi ‐ Ministero della Cultura
Photo credits: Uffizi Galleries
Access notes:
Free admission every 1st Sunday of the month
Last admission one hour before closing.
The priority entrance to the Palazzo Pitti complex, reserved to Firenzecard holders, is located near the Bookshop in the internal courtyard.
Photo gallery
