Etro has become synonymous with Paisley prints over the years, and now there is an exhibition in place to celebrate this harmonious pairing. Etro is an organic experience, with each garment and accessory the result of a satisfied curiosity, and an understanding of feelings.
It is the result of an anthropological research and it implies a visionary and conscious point of view. The adventure begins with the production of textiles and evolves with the creation of a fashion style with a strong identity.
The Paisley motif – the date palm sprout, “The Tree of Life”, originating from Mesopotamia and recognized as a symbol of fertility and longevity – becomes a pillar of Etro’s entire work, thus making it unique. To celebrate this motif Etro chose the Museum of Cultures in Milan. This particular location shares the same spirit as the brand: the vocation for nomadism and an open attitude towards the wonders of the world.
The Museum of Cultures will host Generation Paisley, an exhibition launched on 22nd September 2018. The exhibition is both imaginative and articulate: the leafy branches of a giant tree welcome the visitors, while a sort of dorsal spine will spiral through the five rooms uninterrupted, overcoming boundaries, building an analogic and stylistic path comprised of 50 outfits from the different collections of the Etro archive.
Amidst walls covered in fabrics, and paintings, mirror reflections multiply and amplify the prints, while digital and three-dimensional effects immerse visitors in an atmosphere that is estranging and familiar at the same time. An emotional kaleidoscope underlines how for Etro the cultural element is the founding principle and fashion is existential sensibility and content, not just form.
Many items on display belong to the personal collections of members of the Etro family. Great travellers and intellectuals, each one of them is animated by a different passion. In complete harmony with the museum, Etro has also imagined possible interactions between the garments and the precious objects already present in the museum’s collection, thus constructing a productive dialogue that symbolically erases boundaries, giving space to sensibility and the heart.
The Generation Paisley exhibition runs until October 14. Located at the Museum of Cultures, Milan.
