Spring/Summer 14 Fashion Show: Voyage to the far east among silk veils

From Mantua to Shanghai via Sumatra. For Spring/Summer 2014, the Corneliani man stretches his horizons to the edges of the Far East, the fashion system's new centre of gravity, an increasingly cosmopolitan destination influenced by a blend of customs and new cultures. Sergio Corneliani, the Mantua-based company's Creative Director, has traced the legendary routes of Marco Polo to explore a sophisticated concept of contemporary elegance. "It's impossible to think about fashion without pushing our boundaries. We must consider the needs of the global market, which is characterised by the existence of different styles and cultures and constantly evolving taste. Today's man is a 'travelling man' who wants an invaluable, high quality wardrobe on his travels that reflects traditional tailoring but also with special, personalised details. Taking these cornerstones as my starting point, I designed a collection steeped in cultural meanings, memories and influences, attempting to mix the sobriety that is typical of our company with more exotic touches. "I took my inspiration from Mantua, my home town and a centre for Renaissance art, to reinterpret Andrea Mantegna's work for the Bridal Chamber in the Castle of St. George, borrowing his decorative theme of interlinked circles as the leitmotiv for the wardrobe and sometimes laser-printing them onto leather. The distinguishing detail is the Nehru collar with visible sartorial stitching." It is precisely this jacket that reflects the mood