Fashion&Luxury, Mantero and Dentsu Creative Italy Launch Archivio Mantero Project

From November 8th to 10th, the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum hosted the exclusive unveiling of 'Prototypes', the first Variazione of the Archivio Mantero project, curated by renowned Italian designer and creative Giorgio Di Salvo. 

This debut marks a new chapter for Mantero, the historic Como-based textile company established in 1902 and a long-standing reference for major fashion houses worldwide.

The Archivio Mantero project, conceived in collaboration with _/|_>, the Fashion & Luxury studio of Dentsu Creative Italy, introduces a new evolving approach to exploring and interpreting the archive’s creative legacy.

Archivio Mantero is a priceless treasure trove of creativity, containing books, volumes, sample sheets, drawings, fabric prints, accessories, photographs, slides, original kimonos, antique printing objects, and a myriad of other creative materials, all organised into 41 collections. “How do we narrate such a collection without revealing it entirely?” asked _/|_>. The solution was to create an immersive, yet enigmatic visual narrative. 

“We approached the Archivio as we would a brand," explained the studio’s team. "Our first step was to define its aesthetic and linguistic identity - both visual and spoken. Then, we launched a parallel project, meticulously curating an Instagram profile where every detail - from colours and sound to cryptic captions - functions as a mood board. The aim is to showcase the historical know-how of the Archive through a dynamic, contemporary lens.”

For the next phase, together with Mantero’s creative department, the collective then devised the concept of 'Variazione' - a term drawn from textile language, referring to the ability to evolve a design while keeping it recognisable and relevant to the present context. Each year, an artist will be invited to interpret one of the Archive’s collections. The resulting creation will transcend the realm of fashion, serving as a platform for diverse artistic practices and expressions.

In this first edition, Variazione 00, titled 'Prototypes', Giorgio Di Salvo chose to reinterpret the collection dedicated to Avantgard, a revolutionary textile studio founded in 1975 by Fabrizio Navarra in Como. Drawing inspiration from this rich heritage, Di Salvo developed three original themes, which he brought to life through three artworks in the form of kites. These kites, symbolic of flight and freedom, reflect the blending of historical and modern influences that define the Archivio Mantero project.

The Archivio Mantero and its ongoing series of Variazioni aim to open up new dialogues between art, fashion, and textile craftsmanship, showcasing the boundless possibilities of the creative process.