Chosen by Falconeri to interpret the brand’s codes within the Industry Project of the Master’s in Creative Knitwear Design, Agnese Mingozzi, Andrea Torre, Federica Rubbis, Morgan Boyce, and Simone Rizzato present five personal capsule collections, the result of an intense journey of research and experimentation led by Project Leader Gigi Vezzola.
The Vaia 1.8 collection was conceived as a creative and sustainable response to the Vaia storm of 2018, which devastated the alpine forests of Trentino and Friuli, felling over 42 million trees. This event highlighted the fragility of ecosystems and the urgent need for responsible management of natural resources, while also inspiring the resilience of local communities, particularly Italian artisans. These artisans salvaged fallen wood and transformed it into valuable materials to create unique garments, thus promoting circular economy and traditional craftsmanship.
Created for Falconeri, the collection is a knitwear line that incorporates reclaimed wood elements, such as buttons and accessories, evoking a strong connection to nature and the history of the disaster. The yarns and patterns reflect the colours and textures of the forest floor and undergrowth, with details inspired by the designer’s personal memories. Each piece tells the dual story of environmental destruction and subsequent regeneration, blending aesthetics, sustainability, and innovation.
Vaia 1.8 is therefore a tribute to the power of nature and the value of Italian craftsmanship, showing how fashion can become a tool for environmental and social reflection, and can promote a responsible, sustainable approach within the industry.
This collection pays tribute to the timeless beauty of the sea and everything that surrounds it, capturing the essence of the nautical world in every garment. It draws inspiration from the vastness of the ocean, ancient navigation charts, fishermen’s knots, and fishing nets.
The knit stitches evoke textures and patterns that reference these maritime symbols—representations of strength and resilience essential to life at sea. These forms, complex yet functionally simple, are translated into subtle and elegant details, creating an intimate link between the brand’s vision and traditional nautical techniques.
The colour palette plays a key role in expressing this connection with the sea and its environment. It is inspired by the natural tones of the coast, combining a soothing aquamarine blue that reflects the clarity and depth of the sea, a deep brown reminiscent of wooden piers and fishermen’s tools, and sandy hues—beige and ivory—that evoke the softness of sand, sails, and seashells.
The use of melange tones adds complexity to the visual language of the collection, mimicking the ever-changing textures of the sea. Fishermen, with their simple yet tradition-rich lives, bring a human element to the collection, as their functional garments face the natural elements.
This project aims to create a wearable capsule collection for everyday life—an homage to comfort, elegance, and the finest quality natural materials.
Falconeri owes its strength to its independence and vertically integrated production process, overseeing every stage in-house—from raw materials to garment production and dyeing. This approach inspired a parallel with artists who follow their creations from start to finish, as in the art of ceramics, where the material is shaped and transformed to achieve unique effects.
Within this context emerges Fausto Melotti, an artist born in Rovereto in 1901, known for his light and sinuous sculptures, as well as his works in ceramics and plaster. His artistic output ranges from figurative to abstract, with a focus on rhythm and spatial order inspired by music. The collection Le città invisibili takes its name from the book by Italo Calvino, who had a profound intellectual and personal connection with Melotti. Calvino described light and delicate cities, perfectly evoking the spirit of Melotti’s sculptures, which in turn inspired the idea of merging the artist’s vision with knitwear and the Falconeri brand—paying homage to geometric purity and linear elements.
The collection primarily uses cashmere, with touches of printed silk to add lightness, shine, and subtle shading. The knitwear techniques echo the textures of Melotti’s works, transforming them into stitch patterns that resemble ceramic glazing or vertical lines, with embroidery and interwoven details inspired by tailored pleats or braids.
The outfits have a classic style, softened by a fresh and occasionally sporty feel, with layering based on different yarn gauges or similar textures, combining lightweight pieces with oversized jumpers or cardigans. The clean silhouettes enhance the craftsmanship and linear detailing, resulting in an elegant and contemporary collection.
The knitwear project Off Piste was inspired by Falconeri’s strong focus on cashmere and its respect for the environment. The starting point was skiwear, developed to be both personal and meaningful, while offering something new to the brand’s customers.
The collection, made entirely in knitwear (100%), is designed for both men and women. Classic and clean stitches typical of the skiing world were used, such as diamond stitch, argyle patterns, and felting/brushing techniques.
The project offers accessible options even for those new to fashion, allowing for style customisation and making each garment feel unique and closely connected to one’s identity—a concept that aligns perfectly with Falconeri’s values.
The capsule collection Traccia Naturale, created for Falconeri, is inspired by the art of Giuseppe Penone and his deep connection with nature. It uses cashmere, natural colours (green, beige, grey, brown, white), and techniques such as ribbed jacquard and branching ribs. The garments feature innovative constructions designed to follow the body’s natural lines, combining elegance, functionality, and sustainability. The collection celebrates the refined and understated beauty of nature.