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Art & Design

Abstract

Behind the project are Anna Molteni, creative mind and tireless experimenter of materials, design and textures, and Davide Martinelli, owner of a textile company that manufactures and sells men's accessories. Partners in life and in business, they both have decades of experience in the fashion industry. Over the years, the brand's gradual growth has meant it has expanded its range, from offering must-have women's winter garments such as padded jackets, alpaca wool jumpers and tartan-print plaids, to more fashionable and innovative products, such as wool balaclavas and the Re-Match collection, which aims to give new life to half-scarves left over in the warehouses of their loyal suppliers.

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“Abstract started out as a small independent project of mine from a collaboration with a photographer with whom I was creating abstract images to be printed on fabric. I had no idea that it would turn into an actual brand with seasons, collections and research”, says Anna.

The product approach is contemporary, dynamic and innovative. Experimentation is the pillar that supports all of Abstract's collections, with fabrics, patterns and textures brought together in extravagant combinations. The visual communication too is personally curated by the owner, translating into images the company's philosophy in which technique and aesthetics coexist and feed off each other. “I do not consider myself a naive artist, on the contrary I am very practical and technical. All our products come out of careful study, experimentation and a good deal of research”.

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Although Anna and Davide's gaze is turned outwards and towards the future, Abstract's roots are firmly planted in the Como area where the textile industry and the accumulated expertise associated with it are an invaluable heritage handed down from generation to generation. “The black and white photographs on site show my grandmother and her colleagues who worked in a textile mill in the Como area. My mother, on the other hand, was a textile designer, so let's just say that it is a family passion”, says Anna.

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Abstract's rapid growth is partly due to Davide's contribution, which has been essential to the brand. Thanks to the solid corporate structure of his business, he has made Abstract a marketable product and enabled it to expand into foreign markets. Today, items can be bought on the website or from Italian and foreign retailers located in countries that include Germany, Austria and Japan.

The suppliers, which have international sustainability certifications, are in fact almost all located in the Como province, and in a few other cities famous for wool processing such as Biella and Prato. The short certified supply chain, the use of biodegradable fibres and a strong work ethic have made Abstract a totally home-grown Como brand with a bold soul and spirit, just like those of its enterprising owners.