Flaminia Saccucci is the young Italian designer who got it right. From BA classes at Charing Cross Road to the Givenchy studio in Paris in under six months, her story is a fashion fairytale. But the princess isn’t done yet.
Saccucci’s graduate collection at the Central Saint Martins BA show was the one that stuck. Entirely impressive, innovative and gutsy, she achieved that balance between expected and unexpected that few graduates do. Juxtaposing pretty flowers with gritty tyre tread marks printed on latex dresses, trousers and leggings, the collection looked like costumes for superheroes with flower power. Picking up the L’Oréal Professional Young Talent Award for ‘best student collection’, Saccucci moved to Paris to work under Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. See dreams really do come true!
Having already produced a collection exclusively for Browns on the back of her graduate success, ‘one to watch’ is an understatement for this 25-year-old. i-D online spoke to Saccucci about lessons learned while stylist Raphael Hirsch and photographer Harley Weir matched the print to the plant.
What materials did you use on your graduate collection? Mainly latex, but also leather and tulle.
What was your inspiration for the collection? I started by researching tyres and their texture and composition of rubber.
What was the greatest lesson you learned at Saint Martins? To never give up and to just get on with it.
After such a hit first collection, what are your plans to follow it? I have produced a collection exclusively for Browns that is in store now. And I have moved to Paris to work at Givenchy.
Do you think new graduates are given enough of the right advice to go into the industry confident? Not really. I have learnt all I know just experiencing things in first person and by mistakes!
Who are your favourite designers? Phoebe Philo, Riccardo Tisci, Marc Jacobs.
Who do you design for? Anyone that shares my taste.
What’s inspiring you today? Everything can inspire me, the most common object. It is always the combination that is inspiring.
What would you take to the streets and protest about? Children’s’ rights!
Who’s your hero? My super dog.
Text: Sarah Raphael
Photographer: Harley Weir
Stylist: Raphael Hirsch
Hair Stylist: Roku Roppongi using Bumble and bumble
Make Up Artist:James Timothy using Nars
Photographers Assistant: Sunny Moodie
Model: Hannah Hardy @ Elite
Special Thanks to Duane Nasis
