In a world of mainstream fashion that feels overcrowded and noisy, we find solace in selecting garments from brands that prioritise meaningful design over unnecessary frills. Indeed, art259 design is a made-in-Italy niche fashion brand renowned for its avant-garde creations. The two pieces we’re showcasing today embody a timeless, genderless aesthetic, reflecting the brand’s commitment to enduring style.
Crafted from high-quality materials, these garments, designed to be worn across seasons, ensure versatility and longevity in your wardrobe.
Discover The Boyfriend Suit
About the design The Boyfriend Blazer in lightweight wool features a tailored mannish cut with a two-button closure. Two flap pockets and one welt pocket on the chest. Also, a partial lining with two internal pockets. The modern, oversized fit ensures both style and comfort. The Boyfriend Pants are tailored trousers in lightweight wool, wide legs with a front pleat and a voluminous silhouette softly falling on the body. Button closure, two side pockets, and one back pocket, combining practicality with style.
About the material Lightweight, fresh and versatile material you can wear throughout the year. 100% virgin wool
About the colour Sugar paper, a delicate powder blue hue – stylish and easy to match.
Laundry Wash by hand in cold water. Easy care product.
Styling tips The Boyfriend Suit comprises two pieces that harmonise seamlessly. Yet, their adaptable design permits separate wear, presenting timeless and sophisticated essentials. Whether for professional settings, formal, or evening events, these pieces endure beyond trends, destined to become wardrobe staples for life.
How to purchase our selection:
Drop us an emailor WhatsApp for orders or any further information. Also, you can book your private shopping experience in person or via video call.
International Shipping! From Milano, our fashion selection #formodernhumans is available for international delivery.
Exclusive Fashion Our selection intentionally offers limited pieces to ensure uniqueness and a sustainable approach 🖤
Embracing The New Generation of Creatives #formodernhumans
Exploring the narratives behind brands is our passion, so we were thrilled to engage in a conversation with Filippo, co-designer of Miaoran – an innovative brand blending contemporary craftsmanship with both Chinese and Italian influences.
White Milano, on February 24, ten years after their first White, offered a way to reconnect with a wider audience. There, we met both team members, the new generation of creatives. We had the chance to explore the FW24 collection And so, recently, we visited Miaoran’s Milano showroom to immerse ourselves into their world, ready for an engaging dialogue.
In order to understand the origins of Miaoran, we trace back to the early experiences and inspirations that led to its inception.
Miaoran – The interview
• How was the Miaoran brand born? Miao Ran was born in China in 1987; he moved to Milan in 2008 to pursue a three-year course in Fashion Design at the Politecnico and the Carlo Secoli Institute, where he specialised in pattern making, knitwear development, and draping techniques. In 2013, he attended the Master’s program in Fashion Design at NABA. Then, in 2014, he launched his namesake brand. In 2015, Vogue Italia selected him for the “Who is on Next?” contest, receiving the menswear award. In June 2016, Armani selected him to showcase at the Armani Theater. As the first Asian brand endorsed by Armani, it garners attention from international clientele.
Collaboration lies at the heart of Miaoran’s creative process. • How did your collaboration come about? After the Armani Theater, Miao opened a large space in Milan. I met him in 2018 but joined the company in 2019/20, during the full lockdown period. There was a beautiful synergy between us, which led to a natural fusion of our visions. We are two dreamers: one with wild ideas and the other more pragmatic. Stylistically, we complement each other. In 2022, I became an official partner as we sought to navigate through the challenges of the pandemic. At that time, the collection was quite extensive.
• How could you overcome that? It was truly devastating. Due to the pandemic, Miao couldn’t return to Italy for nearly two years. On January 23, he arrived with eight suitcases filled with samples! To adapt, we organised a presentation in our showroom, inviting real people—friends, family, and NABA students (where I teach). During the event, we photographed the lookbook featuring individuals from our community. The response was successful, and we began working again. However, the key to our success was embracing change. So, we closed the big showroom and relocated to a smaller one. Also, we revised our approach to the collection to avoid waste. Now, it is a smaller and better thought-out collection: a total look that gives the possibility to mix and match with other pieces.
• What is your idea of fashion design? We are all pattern makers, emphasising the importance of a perfect fit and a fondness for textured fabrics. We approach design with a unique perspective: clothing is the home of the body, and we like to design it by looking at it upside down with life. However, the idea is to blur the differences between men and women, making it open to all genders. Garments have been deconstructed and reinterpreted. After two years of development, combining the sewing techniques of men’s and womenswear, we achieved a flawless unisex fit, believing that fashion transcends gender boundaries.
• What’s your focus? Our focus lies in outerwear: blazers and coats are the key pieces capable of transforming one’s wardrobe. Indispensable essentials that must not be missing. However, our approach isn’t driven by fleeting trends to please the masses. Instead, we create beautiful pieces that can elevate any outfit for individuals who value fashion as an art form and seek to elevate their style effortlessly.
• What do you think about sustainability? Once I said to my students: sustainability in fashion is fake news. Of course, sustainability is a matter of conscience. So, let’s stop producing so many pieces! We produce only on an order basis, with no warehouse, and no stock. Everything is more optimised.
• How do you see social media? Social media takes away freedom; don’t give it. It’s all fake. Today in Milan, the “fashion capital,” but also in other cities, the meaning of fashion is decreasing. Fashion is meant for self-expression and creativity, yet everyone wears the same trends and brands. Because of social media more and more people are becoming spectators rather than being in the present and embracing personality. Therefore, we decided to offer different content. We shifted from modelling and perfection to educational aspects about craftsmanship, explanations about materials, and sewing techniques.
In conclusion, our conversation with Miaoran unveils not just a brand, but a philosophy—a dedication to innovation, authenticity, and timeless elegance. Miaoran is a brand of fashion brilliance, eclectic, and with a unique design ethos. Not the old guard who only see themselves, Miao and Filippo are adorable guys, open and humble. We are confident our conversation is the starting point for future engagements and collaborations.
Stay tuned to discover their unique designs #formodernhumans
Understanding the evolving dynamics of the role of the designer is crucial for navigating industry shifts. Often, we’ve been pondering a recurring question: Does it still make sense to keep an eye on luxury brands?
The so-called but no-more-so luxury brands. Or the once esteemed but now seemingly entangled in the pursuit of profit. Therefore, they change designers for short-term profit, to the point of sacrificing their legacy. It’s a reflection that delves into the core values of an industry now seemingly driven by financial gains rather than its intrinsic essence.
In one of our most recent posts, we wrote a thought we want to repurpose here. Indeed, a significant issue that requires additional investigation. In the ever-evolving landscape of fashion, where trends shift like sand dunes in the wind, algorithms emerge as a formidable force, reshaping the industry in unprecedented ways.
Fashion designer: from skills to loudness
But what are the consequences of algorithms? One of the consequences of this transformation is the shifting role of the brand’s central figure: the designer. Alber Elbaz’s poignant observation sheds light on this evolution:
“We designers, we started as couturiers, with dreams, with intuition. Then we became ‘creative directors’, so have to create but mostly direct. And now we have to become image-makers… Loudness is the new cool, and not only in fashion, you know. I prefer whispering.”
Indeed, in today’s digital age, the clamour for attention on social media platforms necessitates a cacophony of noise from brands. Loudness has become the modus operandi to cut through the clutter of images inundating our feeds. In other words, social media has corrupted fashion.
Of course, recent developments follow this logic. Specifically, Maison Valentino appointed Alessandro Michele as the new creative director. That underscores the industry’s relentless pursuit of attracting young, social media-savvy audiences. And to the expenses of decades of legacy, consistency and beauty. While these individuals may possess an innate understanding of visuals, the question arises: Can they perceive the depth of quality, skills, and ability essential for authentic creative direction beyond surface aesthetics?
As we move forward in the fashion industry, it is crucial to reflect on the shift in the role of the designer. And question whether profit has eclipsed the industry’s once-revered artistic and creative integrity.
Fashion Industry: Financial Gain at the Expense of Creative Vision
Seismic news rocked the fashion industry: Pierpaolo Piccioli, the creative force behind Valentino, has announced his departure. This startling development prompts us to question, even further, the essence of fashion itself.
Piccioli’s sole leadership modernised Valentino with unparalleled and undeniable beauty. His visionary approach to fashion exuded poetic elegance, expressed through magnificent couture pieces. Also, he championed inclusivity and diversity, embodying a powerful political stance.
PP Piccioli: an exception in the fashion industry
However, Piccioli has been an exception in fashion: he’s been the only designer who has fully respected the Maison’s DNA he designed for. (We wrote about it here). Very few others have shown such humble respect for the founder. In fact, Mr Valentino’s own words after the announcement sum it up perfectly:
“Thank you, @pppiccioli, first and foremost, for your friendship, respect, and support. You’re the only designer I know who hasn’t tried to distort the codes of a major brand by imposing new ones and the megalomania of a ridiculous ego. “
Mr. Valentino’s insights shed light on the contemporary approach of creative directors in their roles. The presumed objective is to revitalise the brand’s image, infusing it with modernity. However, lacking humility or reverence, many creative directors recklessly discard past achievements. More often than not, this results in designs devoid of beauty or purpose, merely serving marketing interests. In other words, the fashion industry is all about financial gain at the expense of creativity and consistency.
It’s undeniable that the luxury sector is experiencing a slowdown. But it’s crucial to recognize that creative designers don’t have a magic wand. Moreover, no other designer can uphold Valentino’s legacy to the extent that Piccioli has thus far.
Financial gain vs creativity and consistency
Indeed, it’s disconcerting how the fashion industry incessantly targets younger generations. The reality is, most young people cannot afford a 2,200 euro mini dress! So, this prompts reflection on whether the true essence of design has shifted towards more accessible items. Should we expect fashion Maisons to sell logoed baseball caps?
Should we anticipate another ‘Balenciagan’ spectacle? Or a new lace & blossom Alessandro Michele’s Gucci style? These are just a couple of examples of larger-than-life egos in the industry. Alessandro Michele’s radical transformation of Gucci begs some questions. After he killed Gucci’s heritage, will the Maison ever regain its credibility? And does it make any sense to risk a similar fate for Valentino?
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pierpaolo Piccioli announced his departure from Valentino, leaving many perplexed. Beyond expressing admiration for the immense beauty that he has brought to the forefront over the years, we struggle to grasp the underlying rationale. Or, perhaps, we understand it all too well. But we are fed up with that game.
We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Greenpeace has just launched a new petition urging people to stop fast fashion. The issue is very dear to us, indeed, our perspective on fashion stands in stark contrast to this. So, we invite you to read and take action.
Fast fashion: a polluting and unsustainable industry
Clothes sold and returned immediately. Accessories designed to last only one season. Destined to break within a few weeks. And soon ending up in landfills or in the Global South. With mass production, low quality, and ridiculously low prices, the fast fashion industry generates enormous amounts of waste and pollution. And behind the false promises of sustainability often lies greenwashing and a devastating environmental and social impact.
Fast fashion in 3 numbers:
25%: the percentage of new clothing unsold and discarded every year
1 second: every second, a truckload of discarded clothing is either burned or thrown into landfills
-1%: it’s the amount of clothing that is actually recycled into new garments.
Every year in Europe, 230 million pieces of clothing get destroyed.
Image credit: Greenpeace
Textile fibres
Over 60% of the textile fibres (acrylic, polyester, nylon) used to produce our clothing are synthetic fibres, and many are derived from hydrocarbon refining, such as gas and oil. Polyester, derived from petroleum, begins to release microplastics after the first few washes, which end up in the oceans and then move up the food chain, also in our food. The fossil fuel industry grows and proliferates thanks to fast fashion as well.
The dark side of the most famous brands
Shein: According to 2022 data, many of its garments contain toxic substances, with some exceeding legal limits, particularly phthalates, up to 600% of the legal limit. (source: Greenpeace investigation 2022)
Nike, Ralph Lauren, Diesel: A 2022 investigation demonstrated that waste from the production of clothing and footwear for these three brands was being burned in brick kilns in Cambodia, exposing the involved workers to toxic fumes. (source: Greenpeace/Unearthed investigation)
Amazon, Temu, Zalando, Zara, H6M, OVS, Shein, Asos: Clothing returned after purchase on the most famous e-commerce platforms travels up to 10,000 kilometres and often is not resold. (source: Greenpeace investigation 2024)
Online returns: clothing travelling up to 10,000 kilometers
Clothing purchased and then returned multiple times. Parcels of clothing travelling for tens of thousands of kilometres between Europe and China, with no cost to the buyer and minimal expenses for the producing company. But with huge environmental impacts. This is what emerged from the Greenpeace Investigative Unit Italy investigation, which, for about two months, in collaboration with the television program Report, tracked the journeys of some garments in the fast-fashion sector purchased and returned through e-commerce platforms. It revealed a schizophrenic logistics chain, extremely long journeys, and the environmental impact in terms of equivalent CO2 emissions.
Fast fashion companies promote their supposed sustainability and respect for better working conditions by stating on labels that their clothing items are produced with a lower environmental impact. However, it often amounts to nothing more than greenwashing. Our investigation of 29 brands has revealed the truth, and globally recognized brands such as Benetton Green Bee, Calzedonia Group, Decathlon Ecodesign, H&M Conscious, and Zara Join Life, just to name a few, have received a red mark regarding the credibility of the statements on their labels.
Greenpeace: sign the petition!
In conclusion, fast fashion, the ultra-rapid fashion sold at very very cheap prices, is not harmless. Unfortunately, the low prices are achieved through the exploitation of workers and harm to the environment. Of course, it wouldn’t exist without modern-day slavery. However, there are alternatives to fast fashion for every budget, for instance, vintage, second-hand and slow fashion. Most importantly, it’s a matter of education and awareness, accessible to all. No excuses left! So, take action now by signing the Greenpeace petition to stop fast fashion and protect our planet! 👉 sign it here!
