BIOGRAPHY

Giuseppe Di Morabito’s passion for fashion is deeply rooted in his admiration for the culture and traditions of Calabria, his homeland in southern Italy—a place as rugged as it is mysterious, and once the cradle of Magna Graecia. The ancient Greek and Roman statuary, the classical architecture, the frescoed ceilings of historic churches, and the vivid sensuality of Calabria’s natural landscapes all come together to shape a rich tapestry of inspirations that has influenced Di Morabito’s creations from the very start. Di Morabito was born in 1992 in Molochio, a small town nestled in the Aspromonte mountains, where the traditional savoir faire of sewing and embroidery has been handed down through generations. From a young age, local women learned the art of tombolo from nuns, skillfully weaving intricate lace on traditional looms while seated outside their homes. Meanwhile, in the winding streets of the old town, tailors crafted custom, finely tailored suits for men. Di Morabito’s passion for cutting, sewing, and the art of corsetry grew from his observations of this patient, meticulous craftsmanship—a skillset also passed down by his mother, Anna, who nurtured his early, intuitive love for fashion. “I was still a teenager,” he recalls, “and I was already asking her to create costumes and suits from my own designs.” Drawn to classical architecture and archaeological sites, his passion for antique art led him to explore the Baroque churches of Rome. The frescoed ceilings of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola and Chiesa del Gesù captivated him so deeply that he transformed them into printed canvases. In 2010, he used these prints to create a collection of bomber jackets, oversized shirts, and shorts—streetwear-inspired pieces that contrasted strikingly with the classical imagery that inspired them. His path to a fashion career soon became clear. In 2013, he moved to Milan to join the Fashion Design Master’s program at Istituto Marangoni. His pieces featuring fresco-inspired prints quickly caught the eye of Milan’s hip underground scene, particularly among those gravitating toward Plastic, the iconic club where DJ Sergio Tavelli invited Di Morabito to showcase his work. These pieces later appeared as artworks at Chiostri di San Barnaba during the WOMADE event, an artistic platform highlighting emerging talents in art, design, and fashion. Encouraged by advice from fashion retailers and entrepreneurs, Giuseppe began by creating a small unisex collection. However, he soon decided to focus on a women’s line, which felt more aligned with his vision. He left Istituto Marangoni to fully commit to launching his label, which debuted in 2014. That same year, he was chosen as a finalist in “Who Is On Next?”, a competition sponsored by Alta Roma and Vogue Italia to showcase and support emerging fashion talents creating garments and accessories in Italy. In the 2015 edition, he presented a collection of unique, handcrafted pieces crocheted by cloistered nuns, seamstresses from his hometown, and even his mother. “Franca Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, really admired them and asked me to create some bespoke pieces for her,” he recalled. In 2016, Di Morabito was selected to represent Italy in the womenswear category of the International Woolmark Prize, where he presented an ambitious, artsy project inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The collection garnered significant attention for his young brand, motivating him to pursue expansion and growth. “I was captivated by the myth of Cycnus, transformed into a swan by the god Apollo,” he explained. “The idea of transformation perfectly echoed the Woolmark Prize theme, where wool, like the swan, was elevated to new elegance and innovation through its use in embroidery, appliqués, patches, and decorative elements.”

Spring / Summer 27