Bidayat Launches Albini Archive Amid Resurgence of Interest in the Italian Ready-to-Wear Pioneer
Bidayat, the investment firm that purchased the Walter Albini archive and IP, has launched a new website dedicated to celebrating the visual legacy of the pioneering Italian designer. Featuring never publicly seen photographs, designs, drawings, and more, walteralbini.org shines a light on his achievements that continue to influence some of the most renowned creatives today.
Walter Albini Photography by Alfa Castaldi
Albini is credited as the creator of Italian ready-to-wear, an approach to fashion that democratized the previously exclusive world of couture. After enrolling at the Italo Cremona institute in Turin as the school’s first ever male student at the age of 16, Albini went on to design prints and patterns for fashion and styling houses in Paris, before moving back to Italy and working with some of its most prestigious couture houses. During this time, Albini helped to usher in a new era for production methods, in particular recognizing a need for a different relationship between the designer and the manufacturer. With this pioneering mindset, Albini spearheaded the idea of brand collaborations, with a notable example including guiding Etro to work with different artisans and manufacturers to produce printed fabrics.
Walter Albini Images Courtesy Bidayat
By the early 1970s, Albini had established himself as one of the most sought-after designers in Italy working for the manufacturing industry. His main goal, however, was to establish a fashion line bearing his own name. Albini revolutionized the industry by creating a fashion show under his own name, bringing together five manufacturers from different sectors under a single collection of ready-to-wear, establishing the concept of the “total look.” He also made the bold decision to be the first designer to leave Florence’s historic Palazzo Pitti in favor of Milan, effectively initiating Milan’s “Collezioni Donna.” His pioneering work and transformative attitude marked the birth of the ready-to-wear movement in Italy.
Walter Albini Photography by Oliviero Toscani
Bidayat’s acquisition and revival of the heritage house sparked renewed interest among Albini, especially among fashion students – but it’s the still-unconfirmed rumor that Alessandro Michele may be taking the helm of the revitalized label that has generated the most excitement.
Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Founder Of Alsara Investment Group Founder And Chairman Of Bidayat
Until we hear official confirmation of the house’s new reality, however, we can tide ourselves over by digging through the amazing collection of images on the new Walter Albini website.
