The name Krizia was taken bylast Dialogue unfinished by the Greek philosopher Plato, the one focused on female vanity. Maria Mandelli, who passed away yesterday at the age of 90 (she would have been 91 in January), after a life at the service of Made in Italy, had established herself with this name in the elite of international fashion.
“Mariuccia, for all her friends, was an extraordinary and innovative fashion designer who, under the name of Krizia, helped create and support the international affirmation of a typically Italian model of elegance”. These are the words used in the press release issued by the company MMK spa, which was just a year ago sold to the Chinese group Shenzhen Marisfrolg Fashion.
Krizia was born in Bergamo in 1925. She has been passionate about fashion since she was very young, she prefers to give up the chair of elementary teacher to open a laboratory in Milan with Flora Dolci: her first garments are simple, characterized by essential lines and no frills. In contrast with the fashion of the moment, which included very long skirts or, at the most, below the knee, in 1971 he presented a collection of dizzying shorts, winning the “Tiberio d'oro” prize. Rubber and cork become common materials for her creations, so much so that the American press defines it “Crazy Krizia”.
The agreement with Florbath for the production of fragrances dates back to 1978 and in 1980 K de Krizia arrives in the perfumery. With Giorgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferré, Gianni Versace and Valentino Garavani, in 1986 Krizia becomes Commander of the Italian Republic. Even the Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, wanted to express his condolences to Mariuccia Mandelli's family for the disappearance of the designer "absolute protagonist - claims the premier - of fashion and made in Italy, with her creativity, the joy of her colours, the all-Milanese sobriety of Krizia's work".
One of her collaborators specified that she died "suddenly" at her home in Milan from an illness. Her husband, Aldo Pinto, her age, was at her side. The funeral will take place on Wednesday, at 11, in the church of Sant'Angelo in via della Moscova in the Lombard capital.
