Photos by Lerman Montoya
The sound of my heeled boots reverberated through the empty halls of the Phoenix Art Museum. The halls acted as a runway, and at the end lied my destination. I opened the door to Whiteman Hall, where the Italian Master of Fashion Symposium was taking place. I tiptoed to my seat as to not make a sound.
Looking down Whiteman Hall, the iridescent shine of Chanel Boy Bags and white shirts caught my eye. Members of the Phoenix Art Museum and students from across the Valley had united to learn about Gianfranco Ferre, one of the fashion industry’s most famous designers of the 20th century.
Known as the “architect of fashion,” Ferre climbed the ladder of success and began designing for Dior in Paris. His architectural approach to designing white shirts launched his career and established him as the industry’s leading designer of his time.
On the stage sat a panel of distinguished fashion elite. Designer Ralph Rucci; model Tatiana Sorokko; Denise Hale, a close friend of Ferre; and Rita Airaghi, director of the Fondazione Gianfranco Ferre, were eager to begin.
The symposium touched on several topics. Stories about Gianfranco’s travels around the world, his inspirations and his unique quirks when it came to his luggage. Hale shared a comment regarding her time with Ferre that resonated with the crowd.
“He gave Rita white hair, and I got more white hair because of him,” she said.
The audience exploded in laughter, and by the end of the symposium we had a raw perspective of who Ferre was.
Nearing the end of the symposium, the museum’s curator of fashion design, Dennita Sewell, asked the panel to give advice to the youth in the crowd. Advice ranged from staying creative to working with great people, but one statement stood out:
“Never forget that fashion is also dream.”
The symposium came to a close after Alessandra Arezzi Boza, curator for the Fondazione Gianfranco Ferre, explained how the foundation is keeping Ferre’s legacy alive and well. Through archiving thousands of photos and sketches, the Fondazione Gianfranco Ferre seeks to aid developing designers and artists by sharing his creative and timeless craft.
I made my way to the exhibit. I followed closely behind a group of Arizona’s most fashionable women. The exhibit walls were painted black to contrast the delicate beauty of the white shirts from Ferre’s different collections floating under the white fluorescent lights. Imagine the greatest clouds of white on a starless night. The white fabric illuminated the exhibit. The detail to the pieces was breathtaking.
Alongside the room were several of Ferre’s sketches and the different campaigns from the places where his designs were worn.
“We see his designs as contemporary, but a better word for it is timelessness,” said Lizelle Galaz, an admirer of Ferre’s.
We moved along to a different room on the upper level of the museum. In the room stood white mannequins displaying Ferre’s work. Admirers stood close to the pieces and examined the intricate detail of the dresses. On the walls hung an array of his famed sketches.
As the event was due to end, murmuring could be heard throughout the halls. Conversations about “timelessness” and “creativity” filled the air, cancelling out the sound of my own steps.
The exhibit “The White Shirt According to Me. Gianfranco Ferre” will be open from Nov. 4 to March 6, 2016. On Nov. 6, First Friday, the Phoenix Art Museum will be “throwing a fabulous Italian-themed garden party for everyone to enjoy.” Wear your favorite white shirt and enjoy a night of exquisite fashions.
Contact the author at Lerman.Montoya@asu.edu. Contact the columnist at lallnatt@asu.edu
