IHT Luxury Roma 2012 Day II

After a great output and turnout during IHT Luxury 2012 Roma conference yesterday, the second and final day  was highlighted by the attendance of Renzo Rosso, Franca Sozzani, Bono, Manolo Blahnik and Frida Giannini. 
 
Thank you all for the unbelievable amount of retweets and replies during my live tweet-coverage in the past two days and specially to the IHT communication team for all the support shown and all the help given to my visit. 
 
Read below the highlights of day two:
 
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Executive Chairperson, AFI:
“When you empower women, you build a nation. This is what we’re doing in South Africa & beyond.”
“Africa holds a promise for the consumption and production of luxury goods.”
“7 out of 10 fastest economies are in Africa.”
 
Renzo Rosso, Founder, Diesel; President, OTB and Only The Brave Foundation:
“What is the fashion connection between Africa and Italy? The skill of human hands.”
“Italy has an ancient culture and Italians love their history. It is about art, music, architecture.”
 
 
Bono, Co Founder, EDUN:
“We try to talk less about the charity side of the clothes, and more about the business.”
“Creativity in the face of conflict, that’s when fashion gets really exciting.”
Guillaume de Seynes, Managing Director, Hermès International”
“One day we will get to Africa. We are 175 years old company and we take our time.”
“Making business in Africa will be the new frontier for the 7th generation of the Hermès family.”
 
 
Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Directors, Valentino: 
“Values of Valentino are imbued with our personal vision, but pieces must have a sense of memory.”
“Grace is a word you never talk about in fashion. But it is very important.”
“We put lots of passion in couture. Couture is exclusive – a dream. Couture is the land of magic.”
 
Manolo Blahnik
“I knew nothing about shoes when I started. It took years for me to learn how to make shoes.” 
“A handmade shoe is a testament to respect, for the inspiration, the craftspeople & consumer.” 
“Cecil Beaton once told me that I always have a little bit of Africana in my collections. It’s true.”
“Italians have magic in their heads & hands that make shoes so special.” 
“There are 30,000 single shoes in my house!”
 
 
Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-Chief, Italian Vogue:
“Africa must select the best and offer it to the market.”
“Africa still has some problems but Africa is rebranding.”
“Africa is a continent, it shouldn’t be thought of as one market.”
 
 
Frida Giannini, Creative Director, Gucci:
“As a designer, I would love to do couture, but it’s not something you can rush into.”
“A major luxury brand like Gucci can help to create awareness & visibility for positive causes.” 
 
Giambattista Vali
“I’m very touch with rituals that’s why I do Couture. I always try to find a balance between two opposites when I design.”
“The knowledge of haute couture was something natural. In Italy is treated as a joke -not as art.”
“The catholic school was a great visual experience, not spiritual.”
 
M.
 

Founder of The Gentleman Blogger Inspiring and Empowering Men. Globally Spotted.

logo_neon_red

Inspiring and empowering men. Globally spotted by Matthew Zorpas.

fb. tw. ig.