Rich Velvets and Paisley Illusions at the Etro Menswear Show

Luxury Italian fashion house Etro unveiled their menswear autumn/winter 2015 collection in Milan.

The models walked out to a backdrop of grandeur with elaborate rooms and exotic animals on the screen behind them. The collection featured sophisticated suits in rich velvets and silks in shades of chocolate and caramel browns, with mustard and orange hues giving an early 70s retro feel and incorporating the brands trademark paisley pattern and poetic approach to fashion.

Fashion One spoke to creative director Kean Etro about the collection, the process and his thoughts on menswear in general. The designer describes the faded out swirling patterns on the garments as an illusion, something that appears and disappears and seems to travel across the clothes like ocean waves. The beautiful prints were hand painted using techniques from Venice opening up new possibilities in the realm of made to measure design. Etro also spoke to us about revisiting styles and making new hybrids with innovative stitching techniques.

The silhouette was different from a lot of the tighter menswear cuts of other designers in recent years, and this was another point of interest for Mr Etro who recognized his almost pajama style trousers and looser jackets created a more classic voluminous shape. Talking about the strengths of Etro and Italian design, he thinks that Italy has a wealth of artists and academies, giving them the ability to export painters, designers, tailors and creativity rather than compete in technology.