Credit: CIM
It is a starry night that holds the face of a man who changed the face of fashion and of Made in Italy, the one that closes the Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2026 show, the last overseen by the designer who passed away last September. The blue gown, adorned with a mosaic of crystals forming the portrait of “King Giorgio,” is a masterpiece of craftsmanship that fittingly seals a memory destined to remain indelible.
Craftsmanship is precisely the right word because, as Stefano Innocenti of CIM Italy — a company specializing in the application of heat-applied crystals for haute couture and luxury — explains, this is a process that, much like embroidery, has a strong manual and artistic component, and requires top-quality materials and considerable expertise to translate the design office’s vision into a runway garment or accessory.
The finest crystals are naturally made of Swarovski crystal, but they also come in glass (to which a silver foil backing is applied to reflect light), resin, or plastic. The facets also determine how brilliant the final effect will be: the number and angle of the cuts can produce very different results in terms of reflections.
Graphic design is fundamental: the original drawing is broken down into multiple parts in order to reproduce it using crystals of different colors and sizes, which are then heat-sealed onto the fabric using presses or irons.
“It is the ideal technique when a brand needs to add brilliance to a garment or accessory while minimizing the impact on it, both in terms of weight — crystals are very light — and in terms of time and cost compared to embroidery,” says Innocenti. “It is no coincidence that our atelier works extensively with design offices and celebrity stylists to create custom-made gowns for international red carpets.”
