Carlo Capasa is an Italian fashion executive who has been the president of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana since June 2015. His leadership has been marked by controversy over his perceived lack of action against racism in the industry and protests from designers of color against his leadership.
Carlo Capasa | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 21, 1958 |
| Occupation | Fashion executive |
| Title |
|
Prior to taking over the leadership of Camera della Moda, he cofounded CoSTUME NATIONAL where he supported his brother Ennio Capasa, the creative director.
Personal life
editCapasa was born in Lecce in Italy's Puglia region.[1] He is the older brother of Ennio Capasa and is married to Stefania Rocca.[2]
CoSTUME NATIONAL
editCapasa cofounded CoSTUME NATIONAL with his brother in 1986 presenting their first collection at Milan Fashion Week becoming its CEO.[3] The brand received favorable reviews globally.[4][5] He and his brother exited the brand in 2016.[3]
Camera della Moda
editIn 2015, Capasa was selected as president of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana succeeding Mario Boselli, who stepped down and took on a role as honorary president.[6] He was most recently reelected in June 2022 for his fifth two-year term atop the chamber.[7]
Racism controversy
editCapasa's term encountered controversy starting in 2020 when a member of Camera della Nova, Stella Novarino, took the stage at a Black Lives Matter protest to decry racial discrimination in Italy including within the fashion industry.[8][9] She founded an initiative to promote BIPOC designers which Capasa initially expressed support for.[10]
He later withdrew his support for the anti-racism initiative after Novarino continued her public criticism of racial discrimination and lack of inclusion in the industry.[11][12] In 2023, Novarino withdrew from Camera della Moda under Capasa's leadership and began a hunger strike due to the lack of diversity and inclusion of designers of color.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Carlo Capasa - MAM-e". fashion.mam-e.it. 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Chi è Carlo Capasa, marito di Stefania Rocca ospite Oggi è un altro giorno". TPI (in Italian). 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ a b Phelps, Nicole (2016-03-15). ""Costume National Is Me": Ennio Capasa and His Business Partner Brother Exit the Brand". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ [Financial Times, July 2004]
- ^ "Fault Line of a New Generation", The New York Times, Amy M. Spindler, 17 December 1996
- ^ Muret, Dominique. "Carlo Capasa named head of Camera della Moda". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Zargani, Luisa (2022-06-30). "Carlo Capasa Confirmed as Chairman of Italy's Camera della Moda". WWD. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Stella Jean Doesn't Feel Supported by Italian Fashion Chamber in #BLM Battle". 7 August 2020.
- ^ "The BoF Podcast: Stella Jean Asks 'Do Black Lives Matter in Italian Fashion?'". 27 August 2020.
- ^ "We Are Made in Italy Fall 2021 Initiative". Vogue. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Stella Jean quits Milan Fashion Week over lack of inclusion". AP NEWS. 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "Où en est la mode en matière de diversité ?". Madame Figaro (in French). 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.