Tell us a bit more about your background and your current work:

I was born in Solomeo, in a village where everyone knew each other and still does today. I grew up between mornings at school and afternoons among the ladies who sewed and taught me how to make little dresses for my dolls. Then I studied art and fashion [in high school] and, after graduation, went into the business. I wanted to go to college but my father convinced me to try the family trade. I gained experience in all departments, from production to digital, experiencing live all the production steps and understanding how the whole supply chain works. Today, after 14 years, I am Vice President and Creative Co-Director of Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A. with my sister Camilla.

What are some new initiatives and projects that you’ve started and are particularly passionate about?

I would say all the projects related to Solomeo as a cultural and artistic center. What I care about the most is the project concerning theater and music schools for young people and the secular oratory, a gathering place for all the kids who, after school, study English or simply have a snack while waiting for their parents to finish work. The aim of all this is to raise new generations with the spirit of preserving these cultural traditions, but also to make them appreciate the community life of this small village, ensuring that they will live here in the future.

And naturally, the Villa Solomei Festival: an artistic-musical event that celebrated 25 years of activity in 2024 and was initiated by my family. I grew up seeing artists from all over the world come to Solomeo and bring their art, so, for me, it was natural to become deeply involved in the organization of the Festival. Every year we strive to bring artists to Solomeo who can teach us something, merge their culture with ours, and offer the entire community of the village, and beyond, five days of high-level music and culture.

Why did you choose to stay in Italy?

I never wanted to leave. I strongly believe in a young population that has the courage to stay to keep our country beautiful and credible. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live where they were born, so there is a constant effort on my part and that of my family to create job opportunities, culture, and cohesive community even in the small village. And it is the community that allows us to live peacefully in Solomeo, the sense of togetherness, because no one ever feels alone and we all help each other. I am raising my son Brando, who is now four years old, here because I am convinced that the quality of life is higher than in a big city.

What do you see for the future of the fashion industry in Italy? 

It is not easy to make predictions about the future of the fashion industry. What I think is fundamental, looking to tomorrow, is the importance of brand identity, of being able to continuously renew oneself while maintaining one’s essence, one’s DNA. Also, we have to ask ourselves consciously, “Who will produce our garments tomorrow? Who will be the future skilled artisans?” Therefore, we must increasingly try to pass on craftsmanship knowledge to new generations and get young people passionate about the art of craftsmanship. I often notice a bit of reluctance toward these crafts and feel that we pass on uncertainty and fear for the future to our children: instead, we need to have that extra bit of courage and instill confidence in them.

What are the greatest obstacles and satisfactions that you face working in this country?

More than talking about obstacles, I would talk about challenges: I still perceive a difficulty on the part of society to fully support women working in the business, and this for me represents a challenge, a push to give 100% of myself, not to give a demonstration to someone but to contribute fully to a common cause. Being a woman and at the forefront of a company is not always easy but I have seen a change of pace, especially thanks to the younger generation. I would say that this is the greatest satisfaction, not so much the fact itself but the ability to evolve, to change, to be aware that we are, for ourselves but also and especially for others, the architects of our future.