The founder Francesco Scognamiglio (i) was born in 1975 in Pompei, the home and beating heart of Neapolitan culture. After graduating from the Naples college of design in 1998, he opened his first fashion house. A fundamental moment in his career came in 1994, when he met Donatella Versace in Naples with whom he began a friendship and a working relationship that lasted until 1999. His début with his first couture collection was in July 2000. His first fashion show was held in Rome in the sumptuous halls of Palazzo Barberini, where he created an extraordinary blend of rock music and classical surroundings especially for the occasion.
In fact, as the soundtrack for the show, he chose a live performance by the English band Skunk Anansie, and for his catwalk the top model Maria Carla Boscono, his great friend who was not yet famous at the time. It was in March 2001, however, that the founder Francesco Scognamiglio made his début on the catwalks of the Milano moda Donna fashion week. The collection was an enormous success, particularly among the international journalists. The women - seductive and ethereal - personified a conceptual glamour; not impudent and fancy but more exclusive, tending, collection after collection, towards experimentation with alternative fabrics and lines and shapes that are intentionally bold, but still in tune with the sensuality of the contemporary woman. In October 2002, the founder had been named med creative director of Verri, for the launch of the first women collection of the brand proposed on the catwalk like preview during man fashion week in January.
In autumn 2008, he signed an agreement with the brand Allegri: the designer became the creative director of a special project named “01.01.09” and designed for three seasons the woman and man collection of the “fashion” department of the brand. This was a very high-level experience considering the names of the designers who worked for Allegri in previous initiatives like Giorgio Armani, Martin Margiela and Viktor & Rolf. In the meantime, Francesco Scognamiglio signs a partnership with the private label from Bergamo Kabi SRL that starting from the spring summer 2008 season has been producing the prêt-a-porter collection of the designer.
The aim of the designer is to present at the highest level his conceptual style and his strict sartorial method – distinctive characteristics of the brand – to important markets as USA, Russia, Europe and even Middle East and Asia.
The style of the founder Francesco Scognamiglio increases its appeal, that is becoming more and more international. His talent and his concept of a definitely peculiar luxury is noticed not only by Suzy Menkes, the authoritative fashion editor of international herald tribune and by Vogue UK, but even by the pop-star Madonna who asked him for some items of his f/w 2005/2006 collection to wear them in a photographic session in Los Angeles carried out by the photographer Steven Klein.
The liaison with Madonna was bound to continue and reinforce in May 2008 the American magazine Elle publishes some pictures where the singer wears a piece of Francesco Scognamiglio fall winter 2008/2009 collection, a black “nude look” voile blouse. This image even became the cover of the single “give it 2 me”, as well as the poster of the world tour of the rock star. Besides, the images with Francesco Scognamiglio piece are included in video clip of the song. Another recent confirm of the attraction that the contemporary rock world feels for the Neapolitan designer style is the choice of lady Gaga to show up at the ceremony of the Brit awards 2010 with a snow-white cape-overcoat with three flounces that was exclusively created for her by Scognamiglio.
(i)WGB SRL is the proprietary owner of all Intellectual Property rights of the brand and designs of Francesco Scognamiglio including the designer’s name. Following a recent sale of Francesco Scognamiglio’s shareholding in the company, stylistic and designs will continue without Francesco Scognamiglio for the brand Francesco Scognamiglio and no other companies or brand may use the name Francesco Scognamiglio in any of its co-operation with the designer. The stylistic and design language will continue with the same stylists and designers as has been done over the years. For further enquiries to co-operate or use the brand Francesco Scognamiglio or Maison Francesco Scognamiglio please email to info@francesco-scognamiglio.it