Recently, for some reason, I've been looking at a lot of fashion magazines.
All kinds of things.
Until a few days ago, I was reading paperback books, but now that I've finished them and am feeling like I've reached a turning point, I've been looking at fashion magazines, which I haven't looked at much in the last few years.
I used to like them and watch them a lot, like the old GRIND, Them magazine, and BRUTUS.
Recently, I have hardly ever read a magazine, and the only time I see one is when I'm interviewed occasionally, and that's when I see one.
And, oh yeah.
Actually, recently I was interviewed by WWD because they were going to feature several shops across the country, and although it was a bit humbling, they did feature me.
I didn't tell the customers who came to the store anything, so I don't think many of them know about it, but I had them post it haha
When I looked through the magazine for the first time in a while, I noticed that many of the brands we carry were featured in it.
Another thing that surprised me was IRIES HM.
For me, who has either shaved or shaved head, hats have become as important to me as my own hair, so I was surprised to see a little bit of them in Pen.
He's truly a "craftsman" so he doesn't give off that vibe at all. I wish he'd just said so.
So, over the past few days, as I've looked at various fashion magazines, I've seen keywords like "handmade."
But what I think is that they all seem to be following the old ways and what everyone has done in the past in a "fashionable" way.
Of course, if they are doing this with the idea of cultural preservation in mind, I think that is a great thing, but some of the fashion brands I have seen give me the impression that they would be a one-off.
I think that if you want to promote "handmade" clothing and work with artisans to make clothes, it's important to continue, but if it's just a "one-off" job, I think that such an important part of the business will simply be consumed.
So, I think that if you want to make clothes using this kind of "handmade" work, it's essential that you continue to give work to those craftsmen and stay involved.
Also, well, I think that old-fashioned "handmade" things are really good, but I'm more attracted to "handmade" things that "no one else can do."
It's not an easy thing to do, but the impact is immeasurable.
That's what I'm going to introduce to you today.
"SILVANA MANETTI".
I have introduced this brand on this blog in the past, and some of you may know it from other stores that carry it.
It is a brand run by Silvana in Italy, and its official name is,
"SILVANA MANETTI Textile Designer Lab".
It started as a so-called "brand" a few years ago, and will be launching in 2021, but Silvana herself has quite a career.
The company was founded in 2001 for the purpose of researching and developing fabrics.
During that time, for 20 years, he has been developing highly artisanal, highly skilled fabrics, and has been supplying fabrics to well-known brands in the high-price zone around the world.
They develop fabrics in an Italian atelier, a "laboratory" for themselves, and then actually create their own products in the same place.
We write it simply as "fabric development," but that means that there are almost no fabrics in the world these days that you would never have seen before at first glance.
Our predecessors have already done everything they could, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to even repeat what they did.
Therefore, I think that unless we constantly think for ourselves and break away from general, common-sense thinking, it will be difficult to create this kind of product.
I'm sure there are many such things that are created but never make it into the world and never see the light of day.
I'm sure it would require a huge amount of time, money, effort, and mental strength.
So, first of all, I think it would be very difficult to continue manufacturing in this field if you just think in a simple, rational way, and seek compensation and results.
Even though I'm writing this, I can't do the same thing. Absolutely not.
I believe this kind of craftsmanship is extremely precious, valued, and worthy of being preserved.
That's why I'm sharing it here in my own way.
In fact, I still vividly remember the moment when I first saw something by SILVANA MANETTI.
It really shook me to my core.
That's how shockingly cool it was.
On top of that, the amazing thing is that they create products that absolutely no one in the world can imitate.
The technology and originality of this is incredible.
In order to make the most of the fabrics that SILVANA MANETTI itself creates, the brand has developed around scarves and stoles, but initially, the focus was on autumn and winter.
A felted stole with an extremely high-pressure effect, made using a unique needle technique.
I will introduce how awesome it is again in AW24, but up until now, it has mainly been autumn and winter wear using cashmere, camel, wool, etc.
However, in the past few years, they have produced some extremely high quality spring and summer scarves.
Among them all, this one is the most amazing.
That's what I think.
I have never come across or seen anything like it in my entire fashion life.
It may not be something that everyone can wear, but it's something that I think is ultra cool.
I'll introduce it to you today.
SILVANA MANETTI
ANTIGUA
Material: 100% silk
color _ BLUE
size _ 70×70
SILVANA MANETTI
ANTIGUA
Material: 100% silk
color _ BLACK
size _ 70×70
First, this.
The model is called ANTIGUA.
Available in two colors.
BLUE.
and
The color is BLACK.
This is incredible.
This was a model that captured my heart the moment I saw it, and I couldn't forget it until it was delivered.
The material is 100% silk, as stated.
In terms of texture, it's satin, so it feels like silk satin.
Originally, the base was white silk satin.
There's some incredible technique involved.
This photo is BLUE.
The central blue is deep and eye-openingly vibrant.
This is a technique that SILVANA MANETTI has been adopting since last spring/summer.
It's a "cyanotype."
This is a very old photography technique that was invented in the 19th century, and it uses ultraviolet rays from sunlight to make images appear "blue."
Instead of a "photograph," make it into a "scarf."
This technique is applied to white silk and then "dyed" using cyanotype.
This blue is achieved without the use of blue dyes, using special solvents and sunlight.
This is a technique that I have never heard of anywhere else.
Because the blue is not dyed using a dye, even the deep color does not negatively affect the exquisite feel of the silk.
The very, very fine silk fabric gives it a natural shine and a stunning neckline.
The silky touch is truly amazing.
And brown borders on all sides.
This is also amazing.
The dye contains 14% silver .
It uses "silver nano-ion technology" developed by SILVANA MANETTI.
This dye does not have a brown color.
A silk scarf is immersed in a dye containing silver and then exposed to air to "oxidize."
It turns brown as a result of oxidation.
This dyeing method used by SILVANA MANETTI focuses on the efficacy of silver,
It is said to have antibacterial properties , including antibacterial and UV protection.
Well, to me, the antibacterial properties are just a bonus, but when I first saw it...
"Deep blue created with cyanotype"
and
"Brown color created by oxidizing silver"
My heart was blown away by this manufacturing, which had never been reached before by any human being before, and by its sheer beauty; I was drawn to the depths of my being by the contrast.
When this happens, I'm done for.
I really wanted it, I've been thinking about it for ages haha
I thought to myself, "I'm going to wear this around my neck from the spring of 2024 onwards." I had already made up my mind.
Because there's no other alternative.
That kind of originality is wonderful.
I myself often wear scarves around my neck, so I've been wearing them a lot lately.
It's a new school year, and I've been wearing this every day since the beginning of April.
Then it became my absolute favorite.
See?
Isn't that amazing?
The deep blue in this silk.
Super, super cool.
I think so.
And this edge.
Usually, the ends of a scarf are sewn either by machine or by hand, but with this scarf, the warp and weft threads have been carefully removed separately.
It's not just a simple cut.
The atelier is located in Italy, where the finest raw materials are sourced from all over the world.
In addition, SILVANA MANETTI originally had clients that were brands that made clothes for global VIPs or celebrities.
Therefore, the base fabric itself is of that same level.
When sewing, the finished product inevitably becomes slightly stiff, so when I wear it, I realize that this specification makes the most of the amazing quality of the SILVANA MANETTI silk fabric itself.
I mean, the touch on my neck was amazing.
Of course, as I mentioned at the beginning, each scarf is handmade, so the appearance will vary slightly from one scarf to the next and from part to part.
This is an area where the cyanotype and the oxidized silver overlap, resulting in a strong color.
The area where the white silk base is exposed.
I think each element blends in well and creates something very attractive.
And as you can see in the first photo, this time it comes with the brand's original leather clip.
BLUE is a full vegetable tanned natural color leather type.
It's made up of two pieces stacked on top of each other and has a magnet inside, so it holds it in place with the magnet.
And this is BLACK.
The technique is similar to that of cyanotype, a dyeing technique that uses oxidized silver.
However, for BLACK, when applying the cyanotype, the solvent composition and exposure time to sunlight are different from that of regular blueprints.
It's not jet black, but rather has a slight greenish tint in some places, but it creates a really nice mood.
Such a beautiful contrast.
I don't think that this sense of color, which is displayed while maintaining overwhelming technical skills, is something that is easily incorporated into the DNA of Japanese people, so I think this is an amazing charm that only a brand like this can possess.
By the way, the color is created by soaking it in a solvent, so the dye is evenly distributed all the way to the back.
Also, the BLACK version seems to have had a little dye added to it in addition to the blueprint technique, so the cyanotype parts are a little harder and firmer than the BLUE version.
However, I think you will still be able to fully appreciate the quality of silk at this level.
this.
BLUE.
A combination of flowing silk texture and highly original colors.
It's a 70cm x 70cm square, but all you have to do is fold it into a triangle, roll it up, attach a leather clip and wear it around your neck.
It's best to wear these things with the feeling that you're just wearing them, not with the feeling that you're trying to look cool.
I personally wear it because it feels comfortable around my neck and I want to be able to create things in this field.
Another reason is to prevent dirt from getting on the necks of shirts, shirt jackets, and jackets during this season.
Just placing it around your neck with that feeling in mind is enough.
I think wearing a scarf just to look cool is a no-no.
I wear it around my neck with a simple mindset, but not everything you wear is good.
However, wearing a scarf does have the effect of making you look somewhat decent, so I think it's a very good tool for adult gentlemen.
SILVANA MANETTI with COTTLE's "LEAF VEIN" that I've been wearing a lot for the past two years.
I wear it a lot, and I always feel the greatness of COTTLE and the splendor of Kaneta Orimono's fabrics.
This year, I plan to have it re-dyed at FERMENTATION.
On the other hand, this is BLACK.
There is no particular color preference, so you can choose according to your outfit and preference.
However, I personally feel that BLUE has taken me to a world of breathtaking views that I could never have imagined before.
By the way, the washing instructions say not to wash it with water, but since I wear it directly around my neck, I plan to wash it by hand.
I expect that since it's 100% silk, there will be some fine wrinkles and some threads may come out from the edges of the fabric, but I think that the wrinkles from washing will disappear in an instant if you apply steam, and even if some of the threads come loose, I think it will be completely fine if you just snip them off each time.
Also, please remove the quality label on the brand tag before using the product.
SILVANA MANETTI
NANO
material _ COTTON 60%, SILK 40%
color_one
size_18×90
Next up, this.
The NANO is smaller than the ANTIGUA mentioned above and has a longer, thinner shape.
This type of scarf has a unique shape.
A scarf made of hand-painted cotton silk fabric with a double layer of stitching.
The main color is red.
A surface with a blue base.
The edges of the fabric are sewn together so that the seams are not exposed on the outside.
The technique of painting with brushes in the atelier has been used since the brand was founded.
The feel of the fabric is airier than the cyano type silk mentioned earlier, and a little dry to the touch.
There is stitching and joining in places.
The NANO is a little smaller than the ANTIGUA mentioned earlier.
This also comes with a black leather clip.
Also, as mentioned above, the area of the red and blue hand painting that appears will change depending on how you apply it.
This one has a lot of red.
And, this NANO model, contrary to its appearance, boasts incredible cost performance.
¥25,000-(+tax).
That's why I think it's a great way for people to fully experience the quality of SILVANA MANETTI.
And finally...
SILVANA MANETTI
CLIP KNOT
material _ LEATHER
Color: BEIGE, BLACK
size_ONE
The leather clips that came with the ANTIGUA and NANO scarves mentioned above are also now available separately.
I ordered it because I thought it might actually be useful for people who wear scarves.
It's exactly the same as what comes with each scarf,
This color is a natural full vegetable tanned color.
I don't think this black is full chrome, but judging from the grain of the leather, it looks like a composite tanning process with a strong chrome tanning effect.
Also, the black one has a softer texture.
Do you understand?
Magnets go into both ends.
That's why it sticks to the iron hanger.
This is the back side.
Both the front and back are made of genuine leather, but the stitching on the side that touches the back of the leather clip is thinner.
As you can see, it looks smarter if you put it on right side up.
This leather clip costs ¥4,000 (plus tax).
It may be difficult for people who don't have a use for it to use it, but for people who wear scarves or stoles on a daily basis, I think it will be a positive element.
I wear scarves on a daily basis, so when I saw this I thought, "What a thoughtful item!"
This is a brand that has been in this field for at least 20 years, and instead of repeating the same things, they conduct research and develop new products, creating products that are truly impressive to see and use.
As a buyer, I am always blown away every time I see it.
I believe that the products created by such brands have a lot of meaning and value in being worn.
Take a look at the SILVANA MANETTI series.