As the dust settles from the menswear shows and the couture collections come to a close, Rome's annual fashion week, Altaroma, returns for its 19th year. This coming Saturday will see the first international screening of the world's first 3D fashion
As the dust settles from the menswear shows and the couture collections come to a close, the city of Rome takes on the mantle to present a multifaceted celebration of couture, art, fashion, design and artisanship. On Friday, Rome's annual fashion week, Altaroma, returns for its 19th year, transforming the city into a whirlwind of exhibitions, catwalk shows and creative events. The Italian capital has centuries of tradition as a hive of exquisite craftsmanship, as well as supporting a burgeoning culture of new creative talent; these two elements cross paths at Altaroma, uniting within the 12th century surroundings of Complesso Monumentale San Spirito, and spreading out to historic locations across the city.
Taking the opportunity to shift focus away from the traditional epi-centre of Italian fashion, Altaroma uses its midsummer slot to create a totally immersive cultural experience, welcoming luminaries from fashion legend, while also providing glimpses of future talents. While the Rome Chamber of Commerce plays host to the Italian premiere of TODO O NADA, an exhibition of photographer Mario Testino, family-owned gallery Elizabeth The First presents a show of Issey Miyake sculptural dresses, garments that teeter on the line between fashion and sculpture. Returning for the third year is Limited/Unlimited, an exhibition project which represents the heart of the Altaroma aesthetic – inviting eight designers to intertwine innovative ideas with the craft rich techniques of Rome’s history to create a modern day interpretation of the concept of couture, with the support of Swarovski.
Another highlight comes on Saturday evening, when KM3D-1 will have its first international screening at the Temple of Hadrian, also in collaboration with Swarovski. First unveiled at London's Haunch of Venison last year, the groundbreaking film sees Kate Moss reunited with Baillie Walsh, who cast her in his mesmerising Pepper's Ghost for Alexander McQueen's A/W06 show, Widows of Culloden. In the world's first 3D fashion film, Moss sits, sphinx like, inscrutable, before the paralyzing slowness of the camera shot is shattered by cascades of tumbling crystals. This association between logic transcending creativity, jewels from the superlative craftsmen of Swarovski and the world’s most infamous supermodel is an exhilarating representation of AnOther’s quest to push the boundaries of what is possible.
Altaroma runs from 8-11 July 2011.
Text by Tish Wrigley
