Latest news with #AlsaraInvestmentGroup
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Vogue
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Introducing Retori—a Made-in-Italy Collection With Art at Its Heart
Retori, the Milan-based brand founded and creative directed by Salma Rachid, has at its core 'the celebration of the idea of destiny, the belief that each of us has a story already written, and that life is the journey of uncovering it.' She explains: 'This guiding philosophy is expressed not through slogans, but through art—the most powerful form of storytelling.' Each collection of this peculiar label is conceived as a 'chapter' in an unfolding narrative, because its story is ever-evolving. And each one begins with a conversation with an artist whose life, challenges, and insights serve as the creative spark. These dialogues aren't just inspiration; they're catalysts. 'We draw from the artists' experiences the key lessons we hope to pass on, translating them into color, texture, and emotion,' the designer says. Photo: Courtesy of Retori Photo: Courtesy of Retori Photo: Courtesy of Retori Photo: Courtesy of Retori The Egyptian-born Rachid launched Retori last year; the brand is backed by her father Rachid M. Rachid's Alsara Investment Group. 'My background is actually in social anthropology,' she explains. 'I've always been fascinated by people, how societies function, how individuals connect. That curiosity is really where it all began.' She studied in London and later in the States at UCLA, where she also explored creative writing. 'I've always loved weaving disciplines together. For me, it was never about choosing one form of expression—it was about finding a way to make them speak to each other.' So why fashion? Why not open a gallery or dedicate herself to one 'proper' art form? 'What truly inspired me was the extraordinary craftsmanship in Italy. There's a purity to it, a heritage of making that feel like the perfect foundation. I wanted to build something that brings all the arts—design, painting, music, food—onto one platform. A kind of living, wearable archive,' she says. 'And at the heart of it is the narration. The name Retori comes from the word Rhetoric, which is the ancient art of story and communication.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Retori to Unveil Chapter 02 Collection in Paris During Couture Week
MILAN — Luxury brand Retori is gearing up to unveil its second collection. Dubbed Chapter 02, it will be showcased in Paris on July 8 during couture week. Conceived for fall 2025, the collection will be revealed just weeks ahead of its arrival in select global boutiques and on the brand's official website. More from WWD How Cyril Chapuy Made L'Oréal Worldwide Leader in Prestige Beauty Colman Domingo to Host AmfAR Gala at 2025 Venice Film Festival Fergie Sparkles in Rhinestone-embellished Valentino Platforms at Netflix's 'Too Much' London Screening This strategy will help strengthen the brand's relationship with its customers, explained chief executive officer Zaccheo Manzoni during an interview at Retori's showroom in Milan. 'We aim to align the presentation of collections with their in-store availability: January and February for spring/summer and June and July for fall/winter.' While highlighting that the collection is made in Italy, choosing Paris during couture 'is strategic as it enables us to deepen our connection with an international network of artists, buyers, press and global consumers,' said Manzoni. Designed and founded by Salma Rachid, Retori was launched by Alsara Investment Group last year, bowing in September for spring 2025. It comprises women's and men's ready-to-wear and accessories collections and Manzoni described it as 'transseasonal and timeless.' Named from rhetoric, the art of storytelling, each collection is a chapter, 'infused with the emotional stories of artists from around the globe. The brand connects a diverse community of artists, enabling them to share their unique journeys through life,' Rachid told WWD upon the launch. Chapter 02 is shaped as a dialogue with Miko Veldkamp, an artist of Dutch and Indonesian descent who was born and raised in Suriname, 'delving into an exploration of identity, self-discovery, evolution and change,' said Manzoni. Chapter 01 was the result of conversations with textile artist Diedrick Brackens and El Salvador-born painter Daniella Portillo resulting in a sophisticated and functional wardrobe in gentle silhouettes. The second collection will be unveiled at the atelier of French antiques dealer, interior designer and patron of the arts Madeleine Castaing at 18 Rue Visconti in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. By staging the presentation at the atelier, Retori hopes to pay tribute to this legendary personality, explained Manzoni, honoring her creative freedom. Castaing was a muse to the likes of Chaïm Soutine and Jean Cocteau. Manzoni joined Retori last year from Canali, where he held the position of chief commercial officer. Prior to that he held the role of director, business development licensing at Mayhoola, spearheading the licensing business for Valentino, Balmain and Pal Zileri. During his career he spent 10 years at eyewear firm Safilo across Italy, India and the Middle East, and then joined Fendi, where he held various management roles across Switzerland, the U.S. and Hong Kong, most recently serving as vice president, worldwide travel retail and Asia franchisee until 2020. Manzoni said he was attracted to Retori as it aligned with his own personal path, citing Paulo Coelho and his novel 'The Alchemist,' 'where the journey of life is more important than where it will lead us. Salma's concept of storytelling through the artists and the clothes fascinated me, as did the exploration of the concept of destiny.' Retori's customer 'is curious, drawn to storytelling, and eager to understand the meaning behind each garment,' Manzoni continued, explaining the reason for mainly choosing the direct-to-consumer channel. He said Retori's debut was positively received, and sales of the first collection exceeded expectations, despite the complex global landscape. 'This success encouraged us to fine-tune our communication strategy, built around exclusive appointments throughout the first half of 2025 in culturally and commercially relevant cities.' Markets that have responded well to the brand are the U.K., Germany, Japan, and the U.S., as well as Italy. Touting Retori's focus on artisanal craft, and the ongoing research into luxury fabrics, Manzoni said the business is equally split between women's and men's. Salma Rachid is the daughter of Rachid Mohamed Rachid, who established Alsara Investment Group in 2017 and is also the chairman of Valentino and CEO of the brand's parent company Mayhoola, which also owns Balmain and Italian menswear brand Pal Zileri. Shahzad Akhtar is the CEO of Alsara Investment Group, which is developing luxury brands based in Milan that include cool puffer label Khrisjoy and design venture Fromm. It has also been planning a revival of the label of Walter Albini, one of the founders of Italy's rtw. Other brands and companies in the group's portfolio include AKN Group, which produces eyewear for Valentino and Balmain; investor Bidayat; Egypt-based jewelry brand Azza Fahmy; accessories label Okhtein, and Flyroom. Salma Rachid is also creative director of Akoni. In addition to Harrods, the brand has linked with Istanbul department store Beymen, recently hosting a lunch with premium clients attended by Rachid, as well as Berlin's multibrand fashion store Lou & the Finches, which opened an apartment-style pop-up to showcase the Retori collection. In Dallas and Tokyo the brand teamed with Stanley Korshak and Takashimaya, respectively. It has also partnered with Al Tayer Group's luxury online platform Ounass. Best of WWD Bottega Veneta Through the Years Chanel's Ambassadors Over The Years Ranking Fashion's Longest-serving Creative Directors
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Khrisjoy Taps Maripol, Gatekeeper of ‘80s Club Culture, for Artistic Project
MILAN – Italian fashion and outerwear brand Khrisjoy is celebrating its Milanese roots and the city's women with 'Donne di Milano,' or 'Women of Milan' in English, an artistic project in partnership with renowned photographer, artist and designer Maripol. The brand, founded in 2017 and controlled by the Alsara Investment Group, is taking over the city's Montenapoleone subway stop decking its walls in large scale portraits taken by Maripol. They depict ordinary Milanese women selected through street, Instagram and word of mouth casting, to celebrate the city's dynamic spirit. More from WWD What Black History and Dreams Have to Do With Off-White's First Soccer Kit Designed for AC Milan BasicNet Reports 2024 Revenue Growth as K-Way Prepares for Milan Show and Celebrates 60th Anniversary Save the Duck Gives Secondhand a Charity Spin With New Digital Product Passport Feature 'For me, beauty is everywhere and in everything. I wanted real people, women who live Milan, who shape its energy. Some I knew, some I didn't, some I had met as little girls. What I wanted to capture was their essence, their truth, beyond any predefined notion of femininity,' Maripol said. The artist and designer is best known for her Polaroids documenting the buzzy New York cultural and underground scene in the '80s, portraying pop culture icons including Madonna, Keith Haring, Deborah Harry, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, among others. After moving to New York in the mid-'70s Maripol landed a designer job at Elio Fiorucci's namesake brand ultimately becoming its art director and splitting her life between Milan and New York. Milan 'is a mosaic, and these portraits are fragments of its soul,' Maripol said about the 'Women of Milan' photography project. 'Milan is freedom to be, to create, to reinvent oneself without apology. That's what these women represent. They are strong, unconventional, diverse,' she said. Captured against vividly colored, solid backgrounds in candid-like portraits, the 30 women were selected as a sample of different backgrounds, ages, sexual orientations, professions and gender identities. The pop-tinged pictures align with Khrisjoy's mood-boosting aesthetics, rooted in the use of colors, playful patterns and edgy silhouettes. 'We did street casting as well as Instagram casting, mixing ages and backgrounds, making sure to keep it real. Milan is a cosmopolitan city — someone who has lived here for a month is already Milanese. That's what I wanted to reflect,' Maripol offered, reminiscing about her early days in the city. The Montenapoleone subway stop in Milan's Golden Triangle luxury shopping district is to be decked with the pictures starting Monday and through the end of February. 'This project is about women, about identity, about Milan. It's about capturing the city not through its architecture, but through the people who bring it to life. That's why we chose the metro — it's democratic, it's where the real energy of the city flows,' the artist and photographer offered. 'Some were nervous, unaccustomed to the camera, but in that vulnerability, there is power. I wanted them to feel seen, to recognize themselves in this project. They are not just subjects, they are the city itself — its movement, its contradictions, its boundless creativity,' she said. The subway takeover is flanked by the launch of a one-of-a-kind art book conceived as a box with 30 Polaroid photographs of the same subjects, paying homage to Maripol's signature art form. 'I've always had my Polaroid camera with me.…It's immediate, raw and true — you can't retouch it, you can't manipulate it. That's what I love. It captures a moment exactly as it is, with all its imperfections and beauty.…For me, it's not just a medium, it's a language — a way to tell stories with honesty, spontaneity, and emotion, preserving the essence of a moment before it slips away,' Maripol said about the medium that has gained her global fame as an artist. The brand held its first official presentation during Milan Fashion Week in February last year and will return to the schedule this month, with a presentation of its fall 2025 collection on Feb 26. The collection is designed by a team, since Khrisjoy last year parted ways with cofounder and creative director Marzia Bellotti, after eight years. Alsara Investment Group took full control of Khrisjoy in December 2023. The group had acquired a majority stake in the label in 2021. Since the acquisition, it has invested in bolstering the brand's management team, developing its wholesale distribution, launching e-commerce operations and expanding product categories. Best of WWD Bottega Veneta Through the Years Chanel's Ambassadors Over The Years Ranking Fashion's Longest-serving Creative Directors
