Carla Sozzani: Art, Life, Fashion

Louise Baring’s captivating text is based on interviews with Carla Sozzani, and each chapter covers a foundational aspect of Sozzani’s inspirational life and career. Beginning with her bourgeois childhood in Italy, the text takes us through her early love of fashion and passion for travel; her trajectory as a magazine editor, including working on special issues for Vogue Italia (her sister Franca Sozzani would edit the magazine for 28 years) and launching the Italian edition of Elle; embracing unmarried motherhood in conservative Milan; founding her own publishing company as well as a gallery that has staged hundreds of exhibitions, including of her own extensive photography collection; launching her own fashion label; helping to propel fashion designers Romeo Gigli and Azzedine Alaïa to worldwide fame; and creating--in collaboration with her long-term partner, artist Kris Ruhs--the world’s first concept store, 10 Corso Como, later rolled out in Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, and New York; and founding the Fondazione Sozzani cultural space. Ever restless and in search of new ways to share her vision, the interdisciplinary Sozzani continues to tread her own path: a true trailblazer.

Interspersed with images that illustrate each chapter are pull quotes in Sozzani’s own words. Complete with guest appearances by a veritable who’s who of the fashion, art, and design worlds--photographers Paolo Roversi, Helmut Newton, Sarah Moon, Nick Knight, and Bruce Weber; designers Yohji Yamamoto, Zoran, Rei Kawakubo, the Memphis Group, and Marc Newson, to name but a few--Carla Sozzani offers a fascinating look at the remarkable life and work of a visionary icon.