Mountain landscapes that look like watercolor paintings decorating winter jackets, noble family crests embellishing the flaps of leather bags, frescoes decorating riding boots. Next winter’s collections are inspired by the fine arts to give importance and value to garments and accessories, creating hand-painted objects that are true wearable works of art.
Credit: Moncler
A trend that aligns with brands’ desire to reconnect with a wider audience through processes linked to craft tradition, such as weaving and embroidery, once again giving value to techniques and high-quality materials.
Credit: Proenza Schouler
But if on the runway each object is meticulously created by artisans and artists who hand-decorate unique pieces to be worn on the catwalk, how is it possible to preserve this very particular effect when moving to production without each piece costing an exorbitant amount? «The answer lies in inkjet technology, which allows for digital printing that perfectly reproduces every shade of the painting» explains Giancarlo Tentella of Conceria Overlord, specialized in high-quality leather processing.
Credit: Nuova Overlord
A truly versatile printing technique that can be applied to any type of leather, even hair-on, and that is capable of replicating the handmade effect very precisely. The print can be completed with a manual step to create a 100% realistic effect, also reproducing the brushstroke in terms of thickness and irregularity.
