Armani / Silos
by Roma Cervino
Visiting Armani/Silos in Milan was an incredible experience that highlighted the history of Giorgio Armani designs and the legacy that he created. Armani encapsulated his personal interpretation of fashion, connecting fashion to life necessities, in his statement explaining his decision to name the museum: “I decided to call it silos because the building used to store food which is, of course, essential for life. For me just as much as food, clothes are also essential for life.” The preservation and honoring of these clothes is vital to the history and ethos of the fashion world.
The museum was divided into two sections with photograpy by Aldo Fallai on the first and second floors and the actual collection of clothing on the top two floors. Fallai first met Armani in the 1970s and their collaboration cemented his future as a fashion photographer. He got his start in graphic design and has a unique photography style that has distinguished him in the fashion and photo industry. The photos displayed in the gallery span from 1977 to 2021 and are taken from magazines and promotional shots that Fallai did for Armani. The upper floors consisted of Giorgio Armanis ready-to-wear collection including accessories also dating from 1977 to 2021. Each piece was incredible to look at with intricate designs and clearly thought-out inspirations for their respected collections.
As a studio arts major I am interested in looking at fashion through an artistic lens. I found the 600 pieces from his collection to truly be works of art. The physical garments were displayed not with mannequins but instead suspended by wire so that each design looked as though it were floating. This way you could imagine yourself in the piece and observe the movement/drapery at the same time without it appearing stiff. The music and lighting was transportive and meditative, letting the viewer fully immerse themselves in the experience. The museum provided information that was historically and culturally relevant by displaying Armani advertisements and showcasing the pieces worn by celebrities in Hollywood. I found it to be an enlightening and visually stunning archive that has opened my eyes to the intersection between the fashion and the art world. I have included some photographs that display the obvious artistry involved when creating a collection and how presentation of such is an art form in itself. I particularly noticed the alignment between the lighting, color and posture of the “mannequins” used in order to create a unique tableau. In this way the fashion is performative and artistically driven without relying on the use of a body.
What follows is a small selection of pictures that we took at the Armani Silos, just to give you an idea.
