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Annalisa Caricato, an Italian artist to know in Switzerland

Annalisa Caricato, an Italian artist to know in Switzerland

Annalisa Caricato, an Italian artist originally from Bari where she trained with her first artistic studies, today produces luxury bags in Switzerland and around the world.


Once he obtained a degree with full marks from ISIA in Rome, in Industrial Design, he held his first workshop at Valextra Italia, in Milan, in 2000.


Numerous and important collaborations followed for Italian and non-Italian luxury companies: in 2003 he began working as a designer in the creative teams of Tod's, Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, and then became a freelance leather goods designer for clients such as Guess Europe Emanuel Ungaro, Bulgari and Mandarina Duck.


Since March he has been collaborating with CREA in Geneva as a lecturer and is responsible for the creativity and culture module within the Masters in luxury marketing.


In 2022 he obtained a European certification in Fashion & sustainability management at the EIIS in Rome, broadening his design horizons by moving from the world of sustainable leather goods to the world of sustainable fashion by creating upcycling projects, that is, using objects to create a product of greater quality.


Annalisa Caricato made in Italy is her first entrepreneurial project, entirely produced in Abruzzo.

Annalisa, let's start with your first experience at Valextra: how crucial was it for the creation of your brand?

She was instrumental in terms of training. She has built my absolute eye on luxury detail. She taught me that quality needs time and expert hands and that the logo often does not determine quality.


But in your past there are also Dolce & Gabbana, Tod's, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Emanuel Ungaro Bulgari, ...

These great maisons represent my professional background. I have had the honor of working with enlightened and forward-thinking creative directors.


For each brand I designed different bags and accessories respecting their history and the direction they were taking.


3D has always been a process that distinguishes your brand. Did you just want to complicate your life or did you want to offer a well-recognizable product on the market?

At first I wanted to complicate my life. I wanted to create a highly decorated leather product that was not a functional purchase, but an emotional one. I wanted to combine the language of street art with leather goods. I wanted to present a pop product, but refined in quality and details, but above all I wanted to launch the Art à Porter concept by creating a gift box with a bag of the highest Italian manufacturing inside and a t-shirt whose graphics matched the decoration theme on the bag.


This concept does not exist in leather goods and I think I can say that I was the first and only one.


La Rinascente in Milan bought them for 3 seasons in a row and so did several boutiques around the world who wanted a niche product made in Italy.


After a stop due to the pandemic you designed the “Rock Butterflies” collection which almost seems to want to cut ties with the pop past: is this a choice that reflects your state of mind?

The “Rock Butterflies” collection is the evolution of the Art à Porter collection.


I selected the model that was most successful and re-proposed it in a Rock style.


The butterflies of Art à Porter were almost fairytale-like, while the new butterflies have armoured, studded wings and reflect the light on the metal as if to dazzle the observer.


I created the concept of the jewel day bag for a truly bold woman who loves to be noticed even in jeans and a t-shirt.


They are functional day bag models, but very decorated, bright and precious for an emotional purchase.


Sustainability and craftsmanship recall the essence of your brand: how are they developed within your project?

I try to be careful not to waste materials and labor. I produce on orders and do not stock.


After talking about your brand I would like to get to know Annalisa Caricato better. Describe yourself with three adjectives

Dreamer, stubborn and reckless.


Your mania

The collage.


The title of a novel that best represents your life.

I haven't yet read a novel that best represents my life, perhaps I should write it myself so as to honor my lineage with Alexandre Dumas... and I would have some fun anecdotes to tell because mine is a life full of adventures, encounters and shocks on stage…


Favorite artist

Banksy and Pistoletto.


Your favorite food

The pizza.


Your favorite movie

I have more than one, I'm passionate:


“The Pursuit of Happiness” by Gabriele Muccino with Will Smith


“Where We Left Off” by Jonathan Demme with Meryl Streep


“Australia” by Baz Luhrmann with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.


You can't stand it

The indifference.


The greatest designer of all time, in your opinion

Leonardo Da Vinci.

 

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