Massei

Enrica (1947). Italian designer. From her studies in art, she retained her taste and search for a harmonious, unusual color palette, even at a time when black predominated, together with a faithfulness to geometric minimalism, particularly in the style of Kasimir Malevich. During her first years of apprenticeship in Paris, as assistant to Lagerfeld at Chloé, she learnt the daring inventiveness of fashion. Her prêt-à-porter collection (1978) was innovative in its use of unusual textiles and new materials (for example, plastics with a mother-of-pearl sheen), the new cuts she introduced with linear forms, and her technical expertise in the combination of pure and neutral colors in both a decorative and structural sense. She worked at Sanlorenzo in Turin, her family’s tailoring atelier, and presented two haute couture collections in Rome, but moved to Milan when she began producing prêt-à-porter. She also collaborated with big firms, such as Hettermarks and Vestebene. These experiences enriched her designs for ready-made clothing, which were intended for active women who choose functional clothing for their own comfort, but who wish to be in harmony with the rational grace of design.