Marni

Francesco Risso has definitely settled in at Marni. This season, the Italian designer proves he has found his groove at the Milan-based house by facing up to the challenge of sustainable fashion. While comfort with an on-trend but relaxed feel was key for Consuelo Castiglioni and her iconic Fussbetts, her successor adds a little touch of the thrift store to a mix that works, giving the whole line a boost. The Marni standards are still front and centre with bright colours, flower prints, unexpected materials and all kinds of geometric shapes. Don’t miss it.

In 1994, Consuelo Castiglioni and her husband Gianni launched the Marni brand as a sister company of Ciwifur, fur company of the Castiglioni family. From the first collections, the creative director’s vision was convincing. After a few years presenting one collection only (fall-winter), the brand extended its business to spring-summer, leaving fur out. Beyond their colorful and unconventional aesthetics, prints are original creations of the brand, the Marni pieces imagined by Consuelo Castiglioni have one main goal: to be comfortable. This motto inspired the designer for the thick platform sole sandals Fussbett, which have become a great success.

Success confirmed in 2012, when the Italian label was selected to collaborate on a capsule collection with H&M which quickly ran out of stock. The same year, the so far independent brand was acquired by the OTB Group, headed by Renzo Rosso.

Four years later, in October 2016, after over twenty years spent expressing her vision, Consuelo Castiglioni left the company. Francesco Risso succeeded her.

Even though his name may not sound familiar, Francesco Risso is an experienced fashion designer. Appointed Creative Director at Marni in October 2016, he has worked for some of the most renowned brands. He graduated from Polimoda Milan, New York Fashion Institute of Technology and London Central Saint Martins, then worked for several major labels such as Ana Molinari, Alessandro Dell'Acqua and Malo before joining Prada in 2008.