Vancouver Fashion Week SS23 Interview With Micaela Rossetti of THE MCL (Italy) - Istituto Italiano Design Graduate

Runway photos by Arun Nevader, courtesy of Vancouver Fashion Week.

Istituto Italiano Design Graduate
Bio -


My name is Micaela Rossetti, I am 22 years old and I am from Perugia, Italy. I am attending Istituto Italiano Design and I will graduate soon. I am spray, solar and very curious. I am always looking for new adventures and motivation. I was inspired by my brother’s passion for fashion since I was a child. I decided to begin fashion studies because this is the world which represents me the most and trough it I express my ideas and my passion.

The name of my collection is ‘’M.A.G.A.’’ ( Make Americans Great Again).It is a play on words and a provocation against the western colonialism and a tribute to the native Americans , to the way they reacted and remained the same as they were before. I was inspired by their culture and their relationship with nature. The collection is composed by six outfits which are made by Hemp fabric and its natural colors.

My brand is called ‘’THE MCL’’ and is the representation of my vision of the world and through fashion I express myself. The idea of the brand was born in 2020, after studying the strategies of Brand Identity. The name of my brand is my first name without vowels which gives at the same time the ideas of simplicity and strength.

Istituto Italiano design grad

Interview -

Please share a bit about your journey to embrace fashion design as a career.

It all started when I was little. I was about 12 years old when my passion for fashion design began. I would never have thought that it would be the road and that I would do my life's job with it. It was all thanks to my brother, a fundamental figure in my life, a point of reference and as such, a source of inspiration. Seeing him dress well, keeping his aesthetics, and buying branded clothes, slowly made me get closer and closer to this world, because he is curious.

How did you learn your skills? (self taught, where you studied design, etc.)

The knowledge of designers, fashion houses and on novelties, comes from my curiosity. The technique comes both from my education at the Italian design institute and thanks to a tailoring.

Istituto italiano design grad

Who are you as a designer? Aesthetic? Customer? Brand?

I am a designer open to all new ideas. I consider my clothes suitable for everyone, both for those who want to experience something new, but at the same time traditional. My brand is a bit like this, it's a mix of tradition and innovation together, giving the clothes a life of their own and making them impeccable.

What comes easiest for you as a designer? What is hardest?

The work of a fashion designer is very difficult, but at the same time the most beautiful work in the world. They get to see their clothes come to life. There is no real easy way to be designer, but there are  beautiful and fun things to do - like all the initial projects, and the creation of your collection from the beginning. The most difficult thing is certainly the inspiration, the always looking for something new that is not taken for granted; also the realization of the outfit itself, because sometimes there can be obstacles.

Istituto Italiano Design Grad

Where do you find inspiration for new collections? How important is colour to your design process?

The inspiration for my first collection started from an aspect that not many treat. I wanted to try, I hope there is a way in the future to give voice to what is not usually taken into account, to important aspects, and shout it to the world. To get more people to maybe use fashion as a means of communication. The colours of my presented collection are all colours inherent in the theme, all natural colour of the fabric. Colour is definitely important throughout the process of creating the collection because I think that this too is included in the subject of  inspiration. It must be all connected and nothing taken for granted.

Istituto Tialiano Design Grad

Readers would love to know more about the collection you showed at Vancouver Fashion Week SS23. Can you describe it for us - inspiration, materials, etc.

Vancouver Fashion Week was the best experience of my life and a great opportunity. I hope it was the first of many. Presenting my collection there was really important because the theme of my collection is very much felt in these countries. The inspiration comes from Native Americans. It is no coincidence that the name of my collection is M.A.G.A. (make American great again), that is to return the voice to all those who no longer have it, and who struggle to remain who they are. Native Americans are one of the few remaining populations that have not lost their culture despite having had Western influence. That's why I chose this population - the roots they have and how they hold strongly firm. The material is I used is hemp. To return to the talk of their naturalness, I decided to leave all the garments with the colour of the natural fabric, or white hemp. The collection presented consists of three women's and three men's outfits. In each of them we can see the strong feeling of lack of freedom, always connected to the feelings of this population.

Istituto Italiano Design Grad

Do you have a favorite look in this collection?

I don't have a favourite look to tell the truth. These outfits are all a bit of a part of me, but there are two I care about the most - The body jacket with the low-waisted trousers and the feathered tote.

Where can readers purchase your designs?

To buy my clothes just go to my Instagram page of the brand at the link below and send me a message. The garment will be made at the time of ordering.

What's next for you as a designer and your brand?

The next step will certainly be to work, I hope, on a new collection. I also want to be able to create something I have always dreamed of which is a brand of my own, and to be able to see people wearing my clothes. There would be no greater joy and satisfaction for me.

Links -

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