Interview

Piero Fontanelli: The pleasure of being "above fashion"

Winter is approaching inexorably. The products of the Nipal factory, which produces men's and women's outerwear lines AFG and Fontanelli, will help you to thoroughly warm yourself without losing your sense of style. We spoke with co-owner Piero Fontanelli about the nuances of his work and the significant differences between fashion and style.

Piero Fontanelli and Massimo Rocchini

- How does the brand's new collection begin?

- From the choice of materials - both at specialized exhibitions and fairs, and directly from Italian manufacturers who come with samples to our factory.

It can be natural leather and fur traditional for our brands, sometimes cashmere, very often - innovative fabrics that protect from wind and low temperatures, while being light and aesthetically attractive. After all, strictly speaking, a real designer not only knows how to draw models, but first of all knows how to choose from the whole huge variety what is relevant and in demand at a given moment.

Piero Fontanelli

- Does he also know how to anticipate future fashion trends?

- I would like to emphasize that our company deals not so much with fashion as with style. After all, what is fashion? This is a kind of human madness, something that is not particularly necessary, but without which life would be boring and predictable. And we usually approach the purchase of outerwear thoroughly, not under the influence of momentary desires, because it will take a place in our wardrobes for many years. And all this time it should look fresh, not becoming obsolete.

We manage to create such high-quality products that will definitely not go out of fashion for the next season, and even after the season. To do this, a down jacket, jacket or fur coat should be, as it were, "above fashion", that is, in a classic spirit - albeit with the addition of sporty or glamorous details. Therefore, we calmly admit that we have been making some models for forty years already, changing only some touches in order to please new trends.

- Many are sure that the classics are boring ...

- Our strength lies precisely in this - to offer a topical, modern and at the same time timeless outer wardrobe item. This is especially true for men, who are much more conservative in terms of their choice of clothing. For women, we leave more room for fashionable maneuvers.

Our down jacket, even after ten years of wearing, remains the same as you bought it in the store. Therefore, 80 percent of our products are classics, and only 20 percent we give for experiments. We do not offer temporary and changeable fashion, we offer an individual style.

- Where does the brand designer get his inspiration from?

- From any of life's little things. Here is a beautiful girl smiling. Here's a look lingering on the details of her dress. So she walked around the corner of a building with an unusual finish. All of this can be a source of inspiration.

- What is Fontanelli's ideal client?

- This is a charming woman who knows how to enjoy life - from all its little things. It doesn't matter how old she is - 25 or 60! Its charm is timeless, just like our products. She undoubtedly enjoys dressing up in something pretty yet soft and cozy. She evaluates outerwear both visually and tactilely.

- Is the AFG client different from her?

- Since this line is more youthful, sporty and there are more bright bold colors in it, younger girls love it. However, she also appeals to women who lead an active lifestyle.

Goliardo Lazeri, founder of the Nipal factory. Piero Fontanelli,

co-owner of brands AFG and Fontanelli

- Have you created clothes for famous people?

- In fact, we do not need testimonial - the quality of our products speaks for itself. And we did not develop collections specifically for any celebrity.But, for example, I know that one of our down jacket was presented to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who wears it with pleasure.

In Russia, our products were liked by the soloist of the Hi Fi group Timofey Pronkin, TV presenter Evelina Bledans, TV presenter and singer Ole Danka, figure skater Anastasia Grebenkina and others. Well, one cannot but mention the president of the Russian Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, and many Russian Olympic athletes, because the down jackets of the national team in the colors of the Russian flag were ordered specifically from the Nipal factory.

- How do you feel when you see people wearing your brand's clothes?

- Pleasure, of course!