Sorelle Fontana
Sorelle Fontana (literally "Fontana Sisters", also known as "Sorelle Fontana, Alta Moda SRL") is an Italian fashion house, specializing in production of high-fashion couture.
It was founded in Rome in 1943 by three sisters and Italian designers: Zoe Fontana (1911-1979), Micol Fontana (1913-2015) and Giovanna Fontana (1915-2004).
History
Born in Traversetolo, Parma, the three Fontana sisters started working as dressmakers with their mother at a very young age.[1][2] They later moved to Rome where they first made some apprentice in other tailorings and sewed clothes at home.[1][3] In 1943 the sisters founded a high fashion atelier in Via Liguria.[1][2] The turning point of their career happened in 1949, when Linda Christian bought a Fontana dress for her wedding with Tyrone Power.[1][2] From then their brand gradually raised in the international jet set, and they dressed many celebrities and also several heads of state, notably Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Queen Soraya, Infanta Beatriz of Spain, Frederica of Hanover, Anita Ekberg and Joan Collins.[1][3][4] In 1972, while continuing their production, they withdrew from official events of high fashion.[3][5] After selling the company and the brand to an Italian financial group in 1992, in 1994 Micol created the Micol Fontana Foundation.[3][5]
A two-parts television miniseries based on the story of the fashion house, Atelier Fontana - Le sorelle della moda, was broadcast on Rai 1 in 2011.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e Anna Franco (12 June 2015). "Addio a Micol Fontana, leggendaria regina della moda mondiale". Il Messaggero. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Flavia Fiorentino (12 June 2015). "Addio a Micol Fontana, la «sarta» delle dive: aveva 102 anni". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d Sofia Gnoli. Un secolo di moda italiana, 1900-2000. Meltemi Editore srl, 2005. pp. 111–116. ISBN 888353428X.
- ^ Silvia Giacomini (4 June 1992). "Storia d'Italia tra pizzi e chiffon nell'atelier delle Sorelle Fontana". La Repubblica. p. 24. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Fontana, Sorelle". Treccani. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ Paolo Scotti (26 February 2011). "La vera storia delle sorelle Fontana le stiliste che vestirono Marilyn". Il Giornale. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
Further reading
- Gloria Bianchino, Rossana Bossaglia. Sorelle Fontana. Università di Parma, Centro studi e archivio della communicazione, 1984.
- Bonizza Giordani-Aragno. Sorelle Fontana, 1907-1992: storia di un atelier. Logart Press, 1992.
- Fabio Feroce, Raffaella Sgubin. Il fascino dello stile: gli abiti storici delle Sorelle Fontana (1950-1968). Civico Museo Revoltela, 1996.