Interview: Caterina Gatta

March 11th, 2011

Caterina Gatta S/S 2011

Italian designer Caterina Gatta has been receiving a great deal of hype following her F/W presentation at the Vogue Talents Corner event during Milan Fashion Week. Her one-of-a-kind garments are created using only vintage designer fabrics, including luxe silks from Gianni Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. Each garment is unique with a silhouette dictated by the textile. But don’t be fooled: the material may be from a couple of decades ago, but the look is all now. We caught up with the young designer for a quick chat about her vintage inspirations.

The Block: What inspired the use of vintage fabrics as the basis for your collections?
Caterina Gatta: Everything started in 2008. At that time I was working as an assistant to a fashion journalist during Milan Fashion Week. I decided to create a couple of dresses for myself for the shows using an amazing fabric from Princess Irene Galitzine. Everybody was attracted by the pattern of the fabric, then the rest came naturally.

Caterina Gatta S/S 2011

TB: If you could time-travel to any decade, which one would it be?
CG: I love the romanticism and free spiritedness in the emancipated climate of the 1920s, like with the flapper dress. I’m obsessed with the vibrant patterns and rich, luxurious textiles of that decade.
TB: Which designer do you prefer for vintage fabrics?
CG: I like them all. Each one has a different story and background.
TB: Are there any current designers whose fabrics you would consider in the future?
CG: Generally English designers, for the sense of colors and prints, [which seem] one step ahead. I like the patterns of Dries Van Noten [Belgian], Erdem and Mary Katrantzou.

Caterina Gatta F/W 2011

TB: Who is your ideal customer?
CG: I’m intrigued by women with a complicated and undefined character. I like to dress a woman that is not a passive fashion victim. She is independent and chooses what to wear according to her needs and personality. Women should be able to dress to amuse and express their joie de vivre. I tend to envision people as actors who choose outfits to fit their mood.
TB: Are there any historical fashion icons that your refer to when you work?
CG: Diana Vreeland is one of my favourites. Her vision of fashion was always breaking into something so different from everybody else.
TB: Does the fabric always dictate the design or do you have an idea of what you want before you discover the fabric?
CG: I respect the story of the fabric first: the colour, the type… Then comes the rest.

Caterina Gatta F/W 2011

TB: You were hailed by Vogue Italia as one of the freshest new talents. What is it like being on everyone’s radar?
CG: I respect the magazine, their work is so incredible and the team that works around Vogue is unbelievably professional. I know that I can trust their suggestions. It is always a great feeling if you find someone that believes in you, like Franca Sozzani and Sara Maino. First of all, young talents need support, especially at the beginning. I don’t care about being on everyone’s radar.  My focus is doing a good job first for myself.
TB: You just showed your F/W collection at Milan Fashion Week. How do you choose themes for seasonal collections?
CG: The themes can come from anywhere, from old photos, music, movies, or my mood. All my interests are mixed together in a natural way.
TB: In one word, how would you describe your label?
CG: How would I describe my label? Hmm… I would say, “unique”!
Words Anya Georgijevic