Last night, Alberta Ferretti announced the name of its new creative director: Alberta Ferretti’s place was taken by Lorenzo Serafini, responsible for the Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini collections since 2014. We tell you about the Italian designer in 10 facts.
Lorenzo Serafini is not a newcomer, but a confident industry player who joined the Alberta Ferretti family (Aeffe Group) in 2014, heading Ferretti’s second brand, Philosophy, and adding “by Lorenzo Serafini”.
He was born in Riccione in 1973 and was adopted into a Milanese family. Lorenzo was interested in fashion since he was little: he collected magazines and newspaper clippings with photographs of Bruce Weber and Steven Meisel.
Serafini received her education at the Milan Naba-Nuova Academy of Fine Arts at the Faculty of Fashion Design.
After winning the CNA young stylist contest, Federmoda ended up doing an internship at Blumarine, where she worked for five years. And then he moved to Roberto Cavalli: in the brand, the designer was responsible for the direction of women’s clothing. Ten years later, Domenico Dolce and Stafano Gabbana invited him to join the team and entrusted him first with the D&G women’s collections and, later, with the first line.
In his native Italy, Lorenzo is drawn to Sicily and Venice. These are precisely the places, according to the designer, where you can spend your days “walking surrounded by the beauty of nature and the glorious past of our country.” For Lorenzo, Italy is synonymous with creativity.
Sunday lunch for Lorenzo is an important family tradition that no one breaks. Favorite Italian dish: fresh tuna and grilled shrimp. “And the dessert I can’t resist is tiramisu.”
Lorenzo admits that the creative process of working on a collection begins at home with his personal library and old magazines, which, as we already know, he collects. And also on trips, meetings with strangers and on social networks, which, according to the designer, if used correctly, can open the door to a world of surprising and interesting inspiration.
From season to season, Serafini turns to the theme of muses: from Chloë Sevigny to Jane Birkin, from Lady Diana to Patti Pravo, including Alessandra Mastronardi and Isabella Rossellini.
He also points out that, according to his personal feelings, the time has come for tenderness, or rather, for soft fashion. “We need to care more about our planet, about other people. It’s just a time when we need more love. Nowadays, anything aggressive or overly sexual seems too uncompromising to me. At least I prefer to stay softer.”
Speaking about his previous work experience, the designer admits that he never had complexes about not being a frontman. “I always felt very lucky to work with such talented people as Dolce and Cavalli. And now that it’s my turn, yes, the pressure is much greater, because now you can’t hide! But the joy of getting on the podium is priceless. It’s not easy to generate good ideas every two months, but if you are driven by a clear vision of what you want or express, it becomes a little easier. “You just have to follow your feelings and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Philosophy of Lorenzo Serafini, autumn-winter 2024
Philosophy of Lorenzo Serafini, spring-summer 2025
