Identifying as both a fashion designer and a visual artist, Sylvio Giardina merges those two worlds together each time he is creating a new piece of work. His inspiration is eclectic and he ties in the harmony of music directly into the designing process. Chasseur caught up with the Rome-based designer and questioned him about his roots, his view on mainstream fashion silhouettes and everything you should know about his latest collection.
What sparked your decision to pursue a career in design?
The work represents the fulfillment of a passion which has always lived inside me. I don’t think I remember the exact time this begun. I drew ever since a child and later attended the courses held at the Rome Costume and Fashion Academy. After that, my passion became a full-blown career. I practiced the techniques of Haute Couture tailoring and after some time, I became heavily influenced by contemporary art. That is when I started my search for new shapes and silhouettes.
What would you say was the most prominent source of inspiration for the SS 14′
collection?
The SS14 collection draws inspiration from electronic music. The tracks are usually composed by samples of various sounds and atmospheres in order to reproduce tones which are different each time. In this new project, I wanted to sample styles that derived from Haute Couture and sportswear in order to create my new vision.
The choice of color for the SS 14′ collection is very diverse, what contributed to this creative decision?
The original idea was to create a musical composition, the colors represent the various tones and conflicting harmonies.
Originally being from Paris, how has moving to Rome made a change in your creative process?
I was born in Paris, but my family is Italian. For family reasons my parents chose to move back to Italy, Rome, where I finished my studies. However, Paris is in my DNA and every thing reminds me that France moves something in me and gives me creative energy.
The silhouettes of your designs help make the body of women free and flexible. This specific aesthetic goes against the traditional ‘slim and slender’ figure used in fashion today. What made you want to go against that?
The transformation of the silhouettes is my main goal. The freedom of an individual as a human being or as a personality is the core of my work. The clothes I create, though many have been experimental pieces, don’t lose their original purpose they of being wearable clothes. That is the beginning and the end, trying to get a balance between creativity and efficiency.
Looking back at your previous collections, the abstract seems to play a big role in the overall designing process. Is this a paper-to-life case or all work is impromptu?
Each collection has its own theme. Structured but in search of new elements and different techniques using new fabrics. All collections are a different chapter to tell a story about my identity.
What does the future hold for Sylvio? Any other upcoming projects that are under development?
This is a surprise and I believe that you won’t wait for too long. Certainly a new FW014-015 collection.