Be Blue Be Balestra

Homage to Renato Balestra

Be Blue Be Balestra pays homage not to a style, a trend or a line, but to a color. The Blue Balestra. The iconic Made in Italy color outlines a piece of Italian fashion history and beyond.

The color symbol of infinity and freedom, loved by the avant-gardes and by Goethe, becomes the common thread for an exhibition that shows the great creative skills of the new generations of designers. Two different worlds come together and interpenetrate. Italian high fashion joins emerging creativity and Renato Balestra becomes the symbol of this generational transition.

Be Blue Be Balestra third edition

The third edition of Be Blue Be Balestra was held in collaboration with the 2017 Talents of the Accademia Costume & Moda.

Ten young talents have been selected from the Master of High Fashion and Accessories, to whom Renato Balestra has offered his historic experience. Vasiliky Grammenou, Nikita Jayakumar, Alessia Russo, Maria Luisa Carella, Violeta Campana, Simona Cupido, Elena Teuolde, Riccardo Guidi, Li Kexuan e Valeria Magistro are the students who, according to their own style, reinterpreted the aesthetic codes of the Balestra Maison.

Tradition and experimentation merge under the direction of Renato Balestra. Thanks to his great experience he led the students, offering them creative support and helping them realize their ideas by following all the design phases and by putting the students in contact with the working reality they are about to join. The jury of experts was composed of Silvia Venturini Fendi (President of Altaroma), Sara Maino (Senior Editor of Vogue Italia and Vogue Talents), Clara Tosi Pamphili (Curator of A.I. Artisanal Intelligence), Barbara Modesti (Journalist of TG1), Angelo Ruggeri (MF Fashion Journalist), Marco Ferra (International Stylist), Maria Vittoria Cusumano (Blogger) and Cinzia di Pio (Relationship Director of the Arab Fashion Council).

The winners of this edition were the Greek designer Vasiliki Grammenou for the clothing category and the Chinese student Li Kexuan for accessories.

Thanks to the contribution of the Arab Fashion Council, the winner Vasiliky Grammenou had the opportunity to exhibit her creation during the Arab Fashion Week in Dubai in 2017.

Be Blue Be Balestra second edition

The second edition of Be Blue Be Balestra was held in collaboration with the 2014 Talents of the Accademia Costume & Moda and with the new generations of students enrolled in the course of Fashion Communication, who in agreement with Maison Balestra and AltaRoma contributed to its promotion.

The Talents who have worked with Renato Balestra are: Martina Belpassi, Carolina Cicerchia, Flavia Collatina, Ambra D’oro, Valentina Di Noia, Giulia Geria, Giulia Goretti de’ Flamini, Chiara Palombini and Vittoria Veltroni.

The students of the VI and VII edition of the Course in Fashion Communication of the Academy took part in the event – Antonia Primerano, Jennifer Toppi, Marcela Souza, Serena Pompei, Valentina Balzer, Vanessa Castaneda, Martina Briotti, Gaia Bruscoli , Serena Aiello, Eliana Spadaro, Martina Briotti, Monica Casola, Jacopo Matricciano, Federica Morgera, Vania Patriarca, Samira Vicinanza, Carmen Fiorentino, Giulio Piano del Balzo, Benedetta Danieli and Fabiana Parpagnoli – who oversaw the Press Office, the Organization of the event and the public relations of the designers.

“Blue by election, blue by instinct and blue as an emotion, creating a sense of absolute harmony.” Renato Balestra

“A generous example of a dialogue between a master couturier and young peolpe seeking to gain a foothold in the world of fashion and build their careers, while drawing upon a legacy of unique, invaluable experience.” Silvia Venturini Fendi, President of AltaRoma

“A very interesting project that confirms the desire to create a system between institutions, companies and training institutes with the sole aim of creating opportunities for young people. Happy to have participated and proud of our designers.” Lupo Lanzara, General Director of Accademia Costume & Moda

The jury that chose the winner was composed by: Silvia Venturini Fendi (President of AltaRoma), Lyne Cohen-Solal (Representative of the Comune and City of Paris), Sara Maino (Senior Editor of Vogue Italia and Vogue Talents), Clara Tosi Pamphili (Curator of A.I. Artisanal Intelligence ), Barbara Modesti (TG1 journalist), Diane Pernet (ASVOFF Founder), Glenn Belverio (ASVOFF blogger) and Massimo Degli Effetti (Buyer and owner Boutique Degli Effetti).

The winner of this edition was Giulia Geria who had the opportunity to follow an embroidery course in the historic Atelier Lésage in Paris. 30 hours of specialized training, supervised by the Artistic Director Hubert Barrère, to learn the ancient tradition and pass it on to future generations.

A cultural value strongly desired to further strengthen the protection of the art of haute couture and sanction the twinning, “Tandem Rome-Paris”, of the only two cities in the world that can boast an immense historical heritage in high fashion.

Be Blue Be Balestra first edition

The first edition of Be Blue Be Balestra was held in collaboration with AltaRoma during the XXI edition of AltaRomAltaModa in 2013.

Eleven young fashion designers were called upon to pay homage not to a style, a trend or a line, but to a colour. The Blue Balestra. Iconic Made in Italy color that outlines a piece of Italian fashion history and beyond.

“I am very flattered that young designers dedicate their creations to me inspired by my favorite color, Blue Balestra. A color that I have always loved and that represents joy and emotion in my life. For me the sky is always bluer and so I hope it will be for these young designers” Renato Balestra

A dynamic exhibition itinerary winds its way through the spaces of the Atelier Balestra by the designers Alessandro D’Amico, Angelos Bratis, Benedetta Bruzziches, Carta e Costura, Caterina Gatta, Charline De Luca, Covherlab by Marco Grisolia, Giulia Gobbi, Greta Boldini, San Andres Milano, Sara Lanzi enrich with avant-garde and unique interpretations declined in the creation of clothes and accessories, all strictly linked by the common concept of the timeless Blu Balestra.

Subsequently brought to Milan on the occasion of the latest edition of the White fashion trade fair. The Milanese edition saw an increase in young designers who wanted to pay homage by demonstrating that high fashion and prêt-a-porter can dialogue and implement a happy synergy in the name of tradition and innovation.