Lifestyle Mirror

Caterina Gatta is one of the names to keep an eye on in the world of Italian fashion. Equipped with a Central Saint Martins education, the young Roman designer launched her namesake brand in New York’s Soho House more than three years ago. Later on, she was featured in Vogue Italia’s “Vogue’s Talent Corner.” It was not long before the world started to take notice and through an event with Vogue Italia in London, Gatta’s fall-winter 2013 collection was presented, and her spring 2013 collection was part of the “Room Service” private sale, organized by Altaroma. As a designer, Gatta’s intrigue stands on her use of vintage fabrics from high-fashion houses like Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Valentino, Ungaro, and Pierre Cardin, among many others. Below, she talks to Lifestyle Mirror about her designs and the things that inspire her.
—Laura Randaccio

Where did this passion for vintage fabrics come from?
Everything started in 2008, when I found my first selvedge signed Irene Galitzine. I started to collect vintage haute couture fabrics but didn’t really know what to do with them so I started to build a wardrobe of dresses for myself, and I was wearing these pieces during fashion week and testing them like a market survey. I discovered I got amazing feedback. Every time it’s like rediscovering a piece of fashion history. The more I go along, the bigger my fashion “archive” gets and now my house is like a little textile museum and this make me feel very proud.

The importance you give to vintage high-quality textiles pays tribute to the term “Made in Italy,” or more generally, to the time when garments were curated in detail, and refinement was the fundamental rule, don’t you think?
Yes, definitely. All of my garments are handmade—hems, finishing touches, even linings and paddings are made of pure silk. I am lucky that my tailors worked for haute couture Italian maisons, when everything was sewn by hand from the first to the last detail.

Do you do only create ready-to-wear, or do you also have accessories?
Two seasons ago, I started to collaborate with the company Alcantara for a collection of bags for women and men called Caterina Gatta per A di Alcantara. I also work with young designers Francesco Ballestrazzi for hats and Benedetta Bruziches for bags. All of my accessories are produced with vintage signed fabrics.

Do you feel like there is someone in particular that believed in you as a designer?
I have to give my thanks to Franca Sozzani and the Vogue Italia team, especially Sara Maino. I remember sending Franca Sozzani an email at 1 a.m. (I didn’t have her email address so I tried to guess it, and after ten trials, it worked). I described my work, she got back to me at 7 a.m. the day after. Because she is my muse, for me it was like for an actor winning the Oscar or getting in contact with Woody Allen! I am also thankful to the buyers of Dolce Gabbana, Spiga 2 store that were the first to put my products on the Italian market. 

Where is your brand available in stores and online?
My collection is available at the Dolce & Gabbana; Spiga 2 store in Milan; Dante 5 in Bari, Italy; Change of Season in New York; P.S. Post Script Couture in L.A.; and online through Luisaviaroma and Farfetch.