London Fashion Week Trends and Educating Tailors in Italy

At the Financial Times Carola Long discusses three trends following the close of London Fashion Week. Here in the Midwest we're quite familiar with two of the trends, blanket-like styles and layering, as we've had the second-most February snow ever recorded in Michigan.

Absinthe editors demonstrate the fine art of layering

Additionally, Alex Coles writes about several Italian brands (Kiton, Brioni, Bottega Veneta and Ermenegildo Zegna) planning for the future by starting schools to teach their tailoring techniques.

“It occurred to me that founding a school was vital when I noticed the average age of our tailors was 55,” says Kiton chief executive Antonio De Matteis, noting that the craft was in danger of dying in Naples once this generation retired. Investment in manpower was crucial, he says, since all Kiton’s products are made by hand and the importance the brand places on the school is clear from the fact the factory floor is adjacent to the school’s classrooms.

Perhaps I should learn a new trade when we retire to Italy in 30 years.