PHILOSOPHY
The expression ‘u ‘mpernu is the translation in Calabrese vernacular of the word “Inferno”, Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece.It is a top level mini collection of high-level expertise with moods which reflect the sensations and emotions each of us feels in our own small world.
This Alchemic Rock Couture capsule collection is the only one of its kind and is made up of handmade items produced by companies that also produce for Givenchy, Tom Ford, Chanel, Chloe 'etc.
It is a line that adapts to the shapes of the body.
Super luxury garments ... they feel like wearing a second skin. The fabric becomes totally ergonomic and adjusts to perfection to the lines shaping them as if it were in fusion with the body. The result is that of having a body inside another one, as it were. This innovative product represents a standard of excellence form the point of view of quality and is made exclusively with top quality materials.
Thanks to the unique competence gained through as many as twenty years of incessant experimental research, Antonio places ‘u ‘mpernu within the range of Haute de Gamme items. All the garments of the line reflect a rebellious Rock spirit.
LIFE
Visionary, determined, extroverted and self-taught, Antonio starts painting on cloth and clothes at 14. He starts working at his uncle’s couture tailor’s shop in Padua and gradually assimilates and masters various techniques to create handmade coats and jackets. After his artistic studies, he attends the Institute of Fashion and Design Marangoni, and while he studies, he starts working with some important fashion maisons and takes part in famous world-wide and European contests in Tokyo, Paris and Barcelona.
He wins the XV NOVEL PRIZE FOR FASHION, Gremio de las Industrias de la Confección de Barcelona, in Spain in 1989. He is one of the finalists at the VI ONWARD NEW DESIGNER FASHION GRAND PRIX, Onward Kashiyama Co. Ltd , Tokyo, Japan in 1990.
In 1990, he wins the contest Borse Europèenne de la Création in Paris granted by the Variance Group. He also wins the “XI ONWARD NEW DESIGNER FASHION GRAND PRIX” an award granted for excellence in the “men’s wear category”, Onward Kashiyama Co., Ltd, Tokyo 1994.
He makes Haute Couture garments for the exhibition “L’abito oltre la moda“ at Ca’ Foscari, Venice.
He is a fashion designer and makes RTW collections, designs women’s and men’s beachwear for a well-known Italian company. In 1995 he presents his first collection, which he self-finances, a women’s capsule RTW Luxury collection produced in Italy and distributed in Japan by Ichida Co., Ltd until 1998. He also collaborates with Japanese firms, by whom he is commissioned prêt-à-porter collections, sweaters, footwear, bags and company uniforms. In 1999, he obtains a position as product manager in the company Staff International S.p.A. in Noventa Vicentina and is in charge of style design, fabric research and co-ordination of men’s and women’s RTW collections for the brand New York Industries. In 2001, he makes his first knitwear collection, produced by a small couture firm in Vicenza. In 2007, he returns to Japan, where he undertakes a project with a well-knitwear company for a luxury hand-knitted mini collection with inlaid work using precious natural fibres such as cashmere, qiviuk, guanaco, silk, etc.
He loves experimenting with alternative fabrics and yarns and is attracted to purposefully audacious lines and shapes; the woman he conceives is sensual and contemporary.
Today, Antonio works as a freelance consultant and collaborates with Italian and foreign firms for world famous brands.