SIKI IM AND TITLE OF WORK TO TAKE PART IN MILANO UNICA’S FABRIC PROGRAM

by Stephen Garner
Milano Unica Fabric Program
(L-R) Gigi Burris, Steven Kolb, Matthew Orley, Siki Im, Alex Orley, Jonathan Meizler, Samantha Orley

Italian textile sourcing trade show Milano Unica and the CFDA launched the second season of The Fabric Program last night at Spring Studios by announcing Siki Im and Title of Work as their menswear and accessory designers of the 2017 season.

The program aims to connect American designers – menswear, womenswear and accessory – with both storied and emerging Italian mills to learn “Made in Italy” production techniques and to create unique textiles that will be incorporated into their collection. The womenswear designer will be announced later this month.

“After the successful launch of our partnership with Milano Unica in 2015, the CFDA is excited to continue to provide three American designers with the opportunity to connect and develop fabrics with some of Italy’s finest mills,” said Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA. “The access to these fabrics has been a valuable asset to the designers’ ability to produce collections and build their businesses.”

The inaugural group of designers included Ryan Roche, Gigi Burris and Orley. The Orley team presented their spring/summer 2017 collection during NYFW: Men’s and weaved in their custom textiles made with luxury mills: Larusmiani and Tessitura di Crevacuore. Ryan Roche and Gigi Burris will debut their offerings this coming September during NYFW.

President of Milano Unica, Botto Poala, added: “The cooperation with CFDA has been quite successful. We have worked with three emerging and very interesting brands, persons who love fabrics, designers who appreciate quality. I thank Gigi Burris, Ryan Roche and Orley for their dedication and all the Italian mills that have adhered to ‘The Fabric Program’ for their generosity. This is real international and cultural cooperation and to have welcomed Siki Im and Title of Work into our program represents the value of ‘Made in Italy’ quality. Milano Unica awaits for them at the Maison of Textiles and Accessories on September 6-8, 2016.”