Month: April 2025

Every Woman is Extraordinary

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The Campaign

It doesn’t matter who she is, how she lives, or what she has achieved: every woman, finally free from the pressure to be perfect, can find her voice and embrace her true identity. This is the philosophy of Max Mara, a brand that for over 70 years has been creating clothing that enhances the strength and character of women — a message powerfully conveyed by the campaign “Forget Perfection, You Are Remarkable”, shot by today’s most creative fashion photographer and director, Oliver Hadlee Pearch, in the streets of London. The campaign stars model Bibi Breslin, a vibrant and elegant embodiment of a woman who, liberated from the deceptive ideal of perfection, walks calmly yet determinedly toward her goals, overcoming life’s inevitable challenges with her inner strengths. Perhaps that’s why the jacket she wears is called Olimpia, like the queen of the gods.

The Exhibition

Max Mara’s commitment to creative female power is also told through the exhibition “Time for Women! Empowering Visions in 20 Years of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women”, running from April 17 to August 31 in the stunning setting of Palazzo Strozzi. Promoted by the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and the Collezione Maramotti, the exhibition celebrates 20 years of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, the prestigious art award established in collaboration with London’s Whitechapel Gallery. The exhibition is a unique opportunity to see together the projects created by the nine prize-winning artists during their Italian residency — a central part of the award: Margaret Salmon, Hannah Rickards, Andrea Büttner, Laure Prouvost, Corin Sworn, Emma Hart, Helen Cammock, Emma Talbot, and Dominique White. Emerging artists at the time of their nomination, they have since made their mark on the international art scene. Their works — including paintings, sculptures, videos, and installations — reflect on vital themes such as identity, memory, the body, society, and politics.

The Film Award

And finally, we can’t forget the “Women In Film Max Mara Face of the Future Award®”, launched at the 2006 edition of Women in Film’s Crystal + Lucy Awards. Women In Film is a non-profit organization that has been promoting equal opportunities and supporting the projects of actresses and directors since 1973. Here too, the focus is entirely on the work and talent of extraordinary women — young actresses not yet household names, but at a pivotal point in their careers and also recognized for their social commitment. Since 2006, Max Mara has honored the human and professional talent of actresses such as Yara Shahidi, Lili Reinhart, Zazie Beetz, Gemma Chan, Elizabeth Debicki, Alexandra Shipp, Zoey Deutch, Natalie Dormer, Kate Mara, Rose Byrne, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloë Grace Moretz, Katie Holmes, Zoë Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emily Blunt, and Maria Bello. The latest winner? Joey King, the young American actress starring in A Family Affair and Uglies.

Elena Salmistraro

Posted on by Newsroom
1

Wood, ceramic, fabrics: you have experimented with almost any kind of material in your work. Which ones are you most comfortable with and which ones would you like to challenge yourself with?

«In my professional career, I have been lucky enough to explore a wide range of materials, each having its own peculiarities and expressive potential. Ceramic, for example, has always fascinated me greatly, because of its extraordinary versatility but also because of its ability to turn into shapes that tell ancient stories while being extremely modern and contemporary: I’ve become very familiar with this material. Wood, with its natural warmth and inherent history, is a material I love because it has the power to converse with time, adding a dimension of continuity to my creations. And then fabrics, with their textures and colors, convey an intimate and sensorial feeling that I find very interesting to explore. At the same time, however, I am always looking for new challenges and experimentations: I am thrilled to discover different materials, wishing to test myself and explore creative languages».

2

You have recently designed a collection of ceramic objects that pays homage to the greatest designers of all time, who are clearly recognizable by their eyewear frames. In your opinion, then, are glasses a distinguishing feature rather than just an accessory?

«For the “Most Illustrious” collection, I decided to celebrate the greatest designers through shapes and details that reflect their work, and are thus immediately recognizable. Eyewear frames were a key element for me in this project, as they not only hide the eyes – a very complex and expressive part of the face – but are also a symbol of distinction. In fact, glasses are more than just a functional accessory; they are a distinguishing trait, a personal signature element that defines the wearer’s style. In this project, specifically, they represent a statement of identity, transforming an everyday object into an element that speaks of who we are, a true trademark that turns the ordinary into something extraordinary».

3

Since you have always designed by immersing yourself in color, it is inevitable to ask you: how would you envision an eyewear collection?

«Actually, I’ve already had the opportunity to design glasses, although unfortunately the pandemic interrupted the project. When I think of a pair of glasses, I don’t imagine them as an object that only serves to protect the eyes, but as something that also becomes a tool for self-expression. I am very attracted to bold shapes, those that capture attention without being too invasive. Color also plays a key role, because I’d like it to convey feelings, while being so well-balanced that it is never excessive or intrusive. And finally, a frame should never lack unexpected details. Little touches that break the mold and defy labels to give each piece a unique and authentic personality».