Being in a phase of gathering as much inspiration as I can while making a new collection which I plan to release early next year, I resorted to watching films and documentaries about fashion.
First on my list, which I watched the other night was VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR.
The film is a documentary of Valentino Garavani, the iconic and master Italian couturier. It showed his life and time as one of history's most notable and respected fashion visionary. It accounts his works throughout his 45 years as a fashion designer, and shows the scenes on what happens behind the designing and creation of Valentino's collection.
Apart from the visual spectacle of witnessing all that Valentino fashion, the most interesting part for me about the film is the kind of relationship that Valentino has with his long-time lover and business partner Giancarlo GIammetti. It melts my heart knowing the kind of "love' and support Giancarlo has given and continuously gives Valentino. Their story is what inspires me the most.
For 50 years, Giancarlo has always been there for Valentino. Valentino being the head creative of the company, and Giancarlo doing the business side. Most fashion designers do not realize that fashion is more that just making beautiful clothes. Above anything else, fashion is a business. If not taken care of, it will die sooner than you know it. Every designer, no matter how good you really are, needs a business/marketing support: someone who makes sure that the beautiful clothes are going somewhere, the business is going on the right direction, and that after one collection, there will be a next one. Giancarlo has always been that for Valentino, and he did it wonderfully.
I guess it was the highlight of the film. It inspired me in a way, that I may not have a Giancarlo in my life at the moment, I may have not met him yet, but I have to make sure that I play the part as well.
After watching the film, I felt more rejuvinated as a designer. I felt more inspired and fueled. I do hope that one day, apart from meeting the Giancarlo of my life, I also wish to have the opportunity to grow as a designer, and be doing beautiful clothes until I become a bitching geriatric. (lol)
Did I mention, that I cried during the end of the film? you guys have to watch to find out why. If you are someone who lives and breathes for fashion, you will surely understand why.
