Made in Italy @ Museum of Bags & Purses in Amsterdam

Italians do it better, as Madonna once 'preached' back in 1986. Italian clothing and design (and food!) is renowned over the world.
Anything carrying the 'Made in Italy' label seems to be in high demand.

Made in Italy - exhibition in Tassenmusem Hendrikje

The museum of Bags & Purses (Tassenmuseum Hendrikje) in Amsterdam is aiming to show what Italian design entails, and what make a pair of shoes or dress so distinctly Italian.

Italian style is a natural attitude and a life of good taste.

Diego Della Valle

Italian couture started to prosper in the early fifties. The tipping point for Italian couture took place in Florence with a fashion show in the Sala Bianca of the Palazzo Pitti in 1951. This fashion show was so entirely different and innovative that it brought Italian fashion to the international public's attention in one fell swoop. This avant-garde glamour had an immediate impact.
Pucci, Valentino and Capucci are the most famous names of this period.

The booming film industry led Hollywood stars to opt for Italian fashion in the fifties and sixties. Italy, and Rome in particular, appears to be a popular film location. Hollywood film stars expressed their desire to be dressed by Italian designers. Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor showed off popular design. The seamless combination of practically and luxury appeals especially to the American public.

Italian style is characterised through the combination of tradition and craftsmanship, with a luxury and sensual look. Accessories, such as bags for example, are an essential part of Italian style.

Dress designing is to me not a profession but an art.

Elsa Schiaparelli

Handbag by Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli is one of the first Italian designers to make a name for herself in Paris. With her surrealistic designs, she was regarded as one of Coco Chanel's greatest rivals in the 1920s and 1930s. During this period, Salvatore Ferragamo established his reputation with innovative designs for shoes.

To promote Italian design, the words ‘Made in Italy’ were introduced in the 1970s. For Italian producers, this served as a collective slogan and mark of quality. It can be found in all kinds of advertising and on labels for designer items, fashion and even cookbooks.

Love Moschino

Gucci

Moschino

Andrea Pfister

The exhibition is on display until 17 February 2019.
For more information visit Museum of Bags & Purses.

Did you know that the museum has a beautiful view on one of Amsterdam's canals and you can enjoy a High Tea or just a cup of coffee!

Text source: Tassenmuseum Hendrikje