What does it make an individual, an object, a garment, a moment in history iconic? The answer is to be found in the impact that any given subject can have on society, in its broadest sense. It is a natural condition, inadvertent, never sought (I hope so!). SIVIGLIA knows it well, a brand that, in a few years – twelve, to be precise – has managed to assert itself on the international market thanks to the versatility and quality of the garments. The staple pieces of the brand founded by Sauro Bianchetti are the trousers. So, to celebrate the iconic item of clothing, SIVIGLIA has chosen Florence, Pitti Uomo, and the historical Palazzo Ricasoliwith an event of art and fashion. Three were the editions presented during the evening: the 5-pocket pants, the luxury denim, and the sartorial chino.
We met the founder and here is what he told us.
How and when was SIVIGLIA born?
SIVIGLIA was founded in 2006 with the release of the iconic pants with a patch on the tight or P001, a model inspired by the dress of the Andalusian horse riders. The success was immediate and disruptive; since the first presentation in some of the most prestigious Italian events, the P001 became a desired must-have. With Siviglia I have turned my thirty year experience in the production of high-end trousers into a dream. Me, my wife and kids have created our brand by capitalizing on decades of sartorial expertise and industrial know-how. From its beginning until today, the brand Siviglia has steadily evolved and the collections have gradually diversified. We started with the men’s pants but after a season the first women’s collection was presented and kids wear a year later.
You have chosen Florence and created an event to combine fashion and art to celebrate your landmark trousers. Why?
Pitti Uomo in Florence is a prestigious international fair where we debuted; we’ve been returning here every season since 2007 and reconfirm our presence as a brand leader in the sector of menswear. With the 94th edition we wanted to celebrate our biggest hits to define a line between what we were and the direction we’re taking from now on. Trait d’union between past and future is our core product, the trousers that we presented as a contemporary work of art, surrounded by an empty space and the light inside some plexiglas cases. We called this exhibition Siviglia Icons and contextualized it in one of the most prestigious Florentine palaces, palazzo dei Baroni Ricasoli.
Icons is the name of the project and it refers to your three productive excellences: the 5-pocket pants, the luxury denim and the sartorial chino. How have they evolved over the years and what is the element that most characterizes them and is also a direct link with the past?
Seville debuts with the 5-pocket pants, smart, casual pants that targets adult professionals who want to combine practicality and style. When I say adult I refer to an audience from 25+ years. The P021 is the 5-pocket Siviglia model par excellence, one of the three models selected as Icons of the brand and even today, after more than ten years in the market, one of our best-sellers. Another cornerstone of the men’s collection is the model P026, a chino pants that I created and developed from the classic 5-pocket Siviglia, and that preserves the characteristic yoke on the back. From these two models then I tried new fit and new styles. Siviglia has three lines devoted to pants: White for the collection of chinos, DenimLab dedicated to experimentation in denim washes and treatments and Hero the youngest star of project Icons. Hero is the innovative 5-pockets Siviglia, with a very different fit and more international than our classics. Hero looks like a 5-pocket pants with the fit of chino pants; the fit is softer and has a drop crotch. This model is inspired by the prevailing taste in Japan where it is already a real star. I can definitely say that the Siviglia pants have deeply evolved over the years, from elegant, sporty product primarily intended for an adult target, to a more complex positioning that reflects the disruptive influence of street style. Today Siviglia wants to capture the attention of a younger audience, attentive to fashion trends and innovative products. The link with the past is, and will always be, the way our pants are produced and the high quality we offer to our customers. Design, tailoring, extreme care in the selection of fabrics and details are our essence that is transmitted from collection to collection.
What about the SS19 collection?
In keeping with the concept of Siviglia Icons, the SS19 collection highlights the brand’s iconic models, those that have recorded the best performances and inspired the project presented at Pitti. The Icons have been subjected to a careful restyling, I updated the design and introduced new sophisticated details. The choice of colours evoke the mood and the atmosphere of a safari and are enlivened by the presence of the orange and the mustard yellow; the denim is soft, the light and medium blue wash dominate; on the classics models labels are strictly white. The sixteen pieces of the DenimLab capsule- with marmorizing treatments and new washes- complete the assortment. With regard to the total look we can’t forget the thin knitwear. New entries are the knitted crew-neck sweatshirts; the t-shirts and polo shirts in solid colours are made of thin knit and towelling. I deleted the roll edges from the knitwear to return to a more sporty and casual look. In line with the safari inspiration, summer field jackets and parka coats are the main proposal which is accompanied by the ever-present trench coat to the knee, both classical and trendy with raglan sleeves and loose fitting. Five models of low and high sneakers made of leather and canvas complete the collection. New is the canvas slip-on model going with the colour palette of the collection.
As usual, our last question … What is really FUN YOUNG!?
Freedom is FUCKING YOUNG!; to have a great passion for what you do and enjoy the creative energy; to be ready even for the most radical changes, to stay focus on the future. Dreaming is FUCKING YOUNG!.
