Barbara Casasola guest designer at Pitti W/Pitti Uomo

Brazilian designer Barbara Casasola is the women’s guest designer

at the next Pitti Immagine, which is set to place in Florence from the 7th to the 10th of January 2014.

Casasola is mostly known for her clean, contemporary designs. Director of communication at Pitti Immagine, Lapo Cianchi, shared her thoughts behind the decision to pick Casasola women’s guest designer: “We loved her last few collections which had a clean, modern, sophisticated yet seductive and glamorous look. It is as though the openly minimal and romantic style conceals – and almost represses – a desire for greater affirmation and strength.”

The young designer first began her fashion career in 2007, when Roberto Cavalli hired her as women’s wear assistant designer. Later Casasola worked with Gabrielle Greiss, the former creative director for Sonia Rykiel, for brands like See by Chloe and Lanvin. But it wasn’t until the summer of 2012, that the designer decided to launch her own label in her hometown of Sao Paulo. Her first collection was well received in Brazil. Casasola went on to show her collections during Paris fashion week in 2012 and held her catwalk debut at London fashion week September of this year. Casasola works from her studio in London, while her collections are assembled in Italy before being shipped to exclusive stockists around the world.

“Barbara Casasola is a young woman who has worked with a number of top fashion houses. She is proud of her homeland, Brazil, but has chosen to live and work in London, in a highly competitive environment,” continues Cianchi.. She concludes that Pitti Immagine feel that the designer is gearing up to become one of the front-runners in international women’s fashion, “and that is why we offered her a platform at Pitti.” Cianchi also notes that all the designers work is made in Italy, which was another key factor that strike Pitti Immagine interest in Casasola.