Alessandro dell'Acqua, a multi-talented designer who has worked on his signature brand before presenting N°21 at the Milan Collection in the 2010-11 Autumn/Winter collection and also serves as creative director for other brands, visited Japan in early December. The world's first flagship store opened in Tokyo in September 2014, generating a lot of buzz, but he was unable to visit Japan at that time, which led to his current visit.
The story behind the creation of N°21 is that he had been presenting his signature brand at the Milan Collection since 1996, but a change in his work environment led to a gap before starting his own collection. Unlike his previous brand, which mainly featured dresses perfect for parties, N°21 is a collection based on the concept of casual, everyday wear at an affordable price. Around 2007-2008, when the global economy began to slow, Dell'Acqua sensed a shift in fashion trends and began creating clothes based on a different concept: comfortable wear and enjoyment, rather than showy clothing.
Even as the trend shifted from dresses to casual clothing, Dell'Acqua's modern femininity remained unchanged, and No. 21 quickly captivated women worldwide. The delicate and innocent atmosphere Dell'Acqua exudes has captivated the hearts of Japanese women, and it has a large fan base. This is also why the brand's first flagship store was opened in Tokyo. At Dell'Acqua's request, the first flagship store opened in Tokyo, an international city that is sensitive to the latest global trends. The brand is currently searching for a location for a second store in its home base of Milan, with Osaka apparently being one of the options. When asked about his future clothing designs, he stated firmly, "Fashion trends tend to be created by influential designers of the time, and then followed. A good example would be Hedi Slimane's Saint Laurent... I don't like following others, so I always pursue trends that are unique to me." "The clothes we designers create are not works of art, and shops are not museums. Beautiful clothes that hang in stores forever, even if they are creative, are not suitable for business. I want to create clothes that everyone wants to wear." He believes that the relationship between creation and business must work together like the two wheels of a cart. His talent, which has enabled him to design for numerous brands and achieve business success, is what is sought after in designers today. His excellent sense of balance is evident.
