It swept by at high speed, I mean summer: Full of swims and picnic and reading and very little writing and afternoons and sun down in Malta and front roll sits at the most amazing Malta Fashion Week event. At the end, it was a summer of revelations and a handful of glittering experience to be clutched close forever.
Now that summer is gone and days getting shorter. It is the return of coats atop bare skins: suede, denim, tweed, and wool, name it. The anticipation of wood-smoke. Damp mornings. Crisp air and sunlight through thinning trees. More trousers: tartan, velvet, linen. Layers.
But if there is one thing we are excited about is the brand Mille Milano because there finally exist a brand that is taking something as common as a coat into something sophisticated and elegant. Excellence, luxury, exclusiveness and perfection, astonishingly exceptional but never ostentatious elegance, this is how I like to describe the brand, their pieces has been created for demanding women who love unique, sophisticated style.
The artistic integrity behind their beautifully designed garments shines bright through seasons, showcasing modernist silhouettes that are tailored and feminine and Italian, and can somehow be can be sensual yet modest all at the same time. All these details combined have us believing even more so that the future is female, and if this is how she dresses, we cannot wait – count us in!
We had an amazing time talking with Mariana, who is the owner of the brand: ‘’I created Millé Milano firstly for myself- I am designing what I want to wear. I wanted expensive fashion pieces in every sense- materials, the finishing, lining, seam, every single detail, but I have not been in the position to spend the insane amount of money for what luxurious brands are offering nowadays. I want a fashion communism- to offer luxury and timeless style to women for honest, affordable prices’’.
SNM: Sum up the aesthetic of your brand. Do you have any signatures?
Mariana: I want to create fashion pieces that are not ‘’fast food’’ fashion. I would describe my pieces as fashionable, stylish, with high quality materials and finishing processes, and the simple philosophy is- You buy now but you wear forever!
The elegance and clean cut, purity and beauty are eye-catching and the recognition of a high quality piece is an immediate effect.
In addition, I want these pieces to be practical. One can wear them day & night- they are suitable for every occasion. Is it a business brunch, parenting meeting or a late cocktail party- does not matter? They are to be combined with everything.
SNM: Your pieces are filled with new and creative surprises. Tell me about your creative?
Mariana: My creativity comes from everyday struggle and fight with fashion and ‘What should I wear today’ question. I wanted to overcome ‘the drama’ and create pieces that are not stressful- because life is already stressful enough!
What I have always wanted is to know that when I put my clothes on- fashionable, stylish, comfortable, that this feeling will follow me during the whole day. As a working and business-oriented woman myself, I need clothes that will always look great on me, that are high quality made and easy to combine, and that I am physically and consciously satisfied and feel feminine at the same time.
SNM: Where are your coat made and what does it take to create them?
Mariana: Every single piece from my collections is designed and made in Milano, Italy. Only the cashmere coat collection is being produced in Martina Franca- the city and its area that are specialized for decades and know-how for producing coats of best quality, also for worldwide famous brands. I put an effort to carefully choose the producer in order to obtain the high quality coats I wanted. I am perfectionist by nature and details really matter to me’’.
SNM: Who are your clothes made for and how do you want the woman who wears it to feel when they put on your coat?
Mariana: They are made for all women who want to feel stylish, to wear a real luxury piece of a high quality, and these women are the ones that understand and appreciate the value of what they are buying.
Millé clothes are for women like me- I want to have a non-stressful piece, not just for one season but for a lifetime. I want to feel feminine no matter what is the occasion.
What I really insist on is fair pricing. I want that all women- even the ones that are not economically powerful, can afford the luxury of high quality for honest prices! Nowadays, the price tag of branded luxury piece of a high quality Is outrageous. In fact, this is how I decided to create my brand , and I believe that all women have right to have to have this kind of piece, that will make them feel feminine and beautiful at the same time.
SNM: Where do you want to see your brand in the next 5 years?
Mariana: I see my brand all over the world. I see my clothes worn by all different types of women. I see cross-cultural appearance and no age limit.
SNM: Where can we shop the collection?
Mariana: We are selling Millé Milano collections on our official website: www.millemilano.com. There are also selected concept stores and retails where we are selling our pieces. We are working on creation of a selling network that will always be transparent with Millé’s mission and story.
SNM: What style advice for young and aspiring women
Mariana: Split your wardrobe in two. So it is 50%-50%: 50% by low cost, trendy pieces for the current season. And the other 50% by high quality luxurious and timeless pieces that will enhance your outfit and always look as good as new. If you do a right calculation and split your wardrobe into seasonal trends + lifetime style, you will also save money on the long term.
