THE PICCIOLI PRINCIPLE

For Pierpaolo Piccioli, creativity flourishes through the spirit of humanism, with an eye on evolution and an openness to dialogue. Tese ideals, among others, are what make him the industry’s most romantic visionary. In a Vogue India exclusive, he talks to Priyanka Khanna about creative fulfillment

It’s difficult to find a review of a Valentino show under the able command of Pierpaolo Piccioli that does not reference his masterly hand at creating experiences (“Creatively and visually appealing!”, “Shows and collections that lift hearts!”, “Moments of visual seduction”) that elevate every emotion. And 2020’s highly fraught state necessitated times that (and I borrow liberally from Marie Kondo) sparked joy.

Among the many questions that have emerged from last year, the relevance of fashion has been one that seems to continually echo. As we stayed home, we reached for our athleisure, leaving our racks of evening wear, denim and power suits largely ignored. As social distancing came into play, the physical experience of the fashion show faded into digital videos, bringing to light the carbon footprint of staging these mammoth productions. As lockdowns became stricter in countries like India, whose artisans are the backbone of the global fashion community, the question of who made our clothes and the value of their contribution became even more prescient. As the BLM movement brought to light widespread homogeneity, the idea of fashion for a few was brought into the fray. And as the pandemic raged on, businesses were ravaged, leaving design houses with little recourse, shuttering shops worldwide. All incredibly relevant issues. 2020 will go down in history as a turning point for the industry.