The Italian Ambassador to Athens, Paolo Cuculi, inaugurated the first edition of the Italian Fashion Days in the World, an initiative launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani in coordination with Italy’s leading national fashion associations. The event opened with the exhibition “Byzantium – Ravenna. Icons of Italian Fashion” in the evocative setting of the Byzantine and Christian Museum. The exhibition was conceived and curated by Polimoda Director Massimiliano Giornetti, in collaboration with Angelo Caroli — one of the world’s foremost fashion collectors — and held under the patronage of the Italian National Chamber of Fashion.
Featuring a carefully curated selection of 20 looks enriched with unique accessories, the exhibition highlights the influence of Byzantine art and aesthetics on collections created between the 1960s and 2020 by some of Italy’s most influential designers, including Armani, Ferré, Prada, Valentino, Versace, Capucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Krizia, Gucci, and Romeo Gigli.
“The magic of Byzantine art and opulence — the glowing tesserae of pure gold mosaics worn by time, colourful stones and imperial purple — materialises in the silhouettes crafted by Italian designers, transforming into true jewels intended to adorn the body,” explained curator Massimiliano Giornetti.
Inaugurating the event in front of 250 distinguished guests from Greek institutions — including Minister for Digital Governance Demosthenis Papastergiou — alongside members of the diplomatic corps and the cultural community, Ambassador Cuculi highlighted the captivating interplay between fashion and cultural heritage, renewing centuries-old ties and exchanges between Italy and Greece.
“The exhibition serves as a cultural bridge linking the Adriatic to the Aegean,” Ambassador Cuculi noted. “The Byzantine Museum in Athens, guardian of a unique collection, is the ideal setting for a historical narrative culminating in Ravenna, Italy’s Byzantine capital. This exhibition recognises that fashion is not only an expression of elegance and beauty, but also a driving force for economic and social development in both our countries”.
