Krizia

founded by

Mariuccia Mandelli

belongs to

Mariuccia Mandelli

about

Designer and creater of clothes and accessories for the fashion-concious. It offers some 30 new lines per year, which it sells in 50 franchised stores and five company-owned ones (London, Milan, New York, Paris, and Venice). Named after a character (Crizia) in a Plato dialogue about vanity, the company experiments with new materials, including eel skin, rubber, and cellophaned velvet. It also licenses its name for non-clothing products, including fragrances and champagne.

Today over 50 collections a year are created for the various Krizia labels, which includes menswear, children's wear, knitwear, as well as glasses, handbags, ties, perfumery, kitchen furniture and much more.

With the strong support of her husband Aldo Pinto, who is in charge of the company's organizational and commercial coordination, Mariuccia Mandelli manages a growing enterprise with increasing sales worldwide.

Greg Myler was the designer for Krizia from 1987 to 2000, when he left to join Mila Schon.

Gianbattista Valli was the designer for the house of Krizia from 1995 to 1997, when he left to join Ungaro.

In 2000, the Israeli designer Alber Elbaz, took over as chief designer at Krizia, after leaving YSL Rive Gauche ready-to-wear. However after only one brilliant collection, he left as they could not agree on terms. Elbaz went on to Lanvin.

He was followed by Belgian designer Jean-Paul Knott, who joined Krizia in November 2001. However in February 2002, he parted from Krizia for reasons unknown. He had only designed two collections for Krizia.

Mariuccia Mandelli, who is still very much a hands-on designer at her house, brought in English designer Hamish Morrow to add fresh ideas to the design. In February 2004 Hamish Morrow left Krizia as he said he found it impossible to fulfil his vision for the label.

Mariuccia Mandelli would now oversee the label's artistic direction with the help of a team of young designers.