In the grand arena of menswear, where collections are often born out of calculative equations of investment and return, a handful of mavericks, such as Massimo Alba, defy the norms with their unwavering dedication to artistry and passion. With the Massimo Alba Spring/Summer 2024 collection, the maestro invites us to a poetic interlude amidst the cacophony of commercialization, taking his inspiration from the harmony of the Alda Merini bridge in Milan’s Navigli district.
For Alba, it is not merely the churn of the fashion business that propels his creativity, but the essence of life itself. Stepping out from the Milanese atelier that overlooks the bridge named after revered poet Alda Merini, Alba is driven by a different muse – the confluence of human connection, poetry, prose, and style. It is this fascination that guided Alba’s hands as he embarked on what he describes as “ a journey into love. ”
At a gathering in the aforementioned studio, industry insiders and friends came together for an intimate viewing of Alba’s latest creation. The echoes of their favorite poems mingled with the cinematic display of the collection, interweaving the abstract and the tactile, and further cementing Alba’s unique narrative of sophistication, craftsmanship, and a refined bohemianism.
The collection stands as a testament to Massimo Alba’s continuing narrative – a narrative that plays out through construction-free tailoring and lightweight cottons, draped over silk shirts adorned with tile-like checks and polka dots. Cardigans, polos, swimming shorts, and leisure suits form the rhythm of this poetic composition.
What is most intriguing about this Spring/Summer collection is that it doesn’t deviate dramatically from Alba’s previous work. Yet it is precisely this consistency, coupled with Alba’s poetic nature and attention to detail, that makes every revisit to his collection an enduring delight. As we journey through this collection, it’s as if we traverse that same bridge in Navigli – the bridge that connects not just two sides of a canal, but the two halves of Alba’s heart: poetry and fashion.
This is not a collection crafted merely to recoup investment or to appeal to the star-studded front rows. This is the work of a designer who, in his own words, embarks on a journey of love, powered by a passion for his craft and an appreciation for the world around him. Massimo Alba’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection proves, yet again, that fashion is not just a business, but a medium of expression, an art form in its own right – and Alba is, unquestionably, one of its poets.
Click on this link to read this article in French version
