Manholes on the catwalk

They say and it’s a well known fact that in Milan everyone is in a rush, hurried and on the go. You walk with downcast eyes careful to avoid obstacles or someone you may know for fear that they will slow you down. Noticing or admiring the beauty around us takes a back seat. Or it could be that we live in the fashion district so we purposely avoid it so as not to be pulled into the temptation of the splendid window displays.

It just so happens that beauty is beset within the sidewalks and while kicking up our heels one evening at the end of winter our gaze stumbles upon colorful Moschino, Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Emilio Pucci, 10 Corso Como, Prada, Etro, Missoni, Just Cavalli, Larusmiani, Laura Biagiotti, Costume National, Trussardi, Dsquared2, Versace, Iceberg, Brunello Cucinelli, Hogan, Alberta Ferretti, Giuseppe Zanotti Design, Ermenegildo Zegna.

It is the 3rd edition of “Sopra il sotto – Tombini Art Raccontano la Città Cablata” (Above the below – Tombini Art tells of the Wired City) sponsored by the City of Milan, in collaboration with the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (National Chamber for Italian Fashion) and lead by Metroweb, the Milanese business for fiber optics. A special edition which, in occasion of the upcoming 2015 Expo, proposes to celebrate and spread the names of excellence in Italian fashion. There are twenty-four top fashion Made in Italy protagonists who have accordingly constructed artistic manholes, chiseled and painted by hand.

In addition to the big names, space was given to potential representatives of the current rising fashion which has already been baptized as Italian New Wave. In fact Metroweb has put together a contest for students in collaboration with the Marangoni Institute of Milan. A panel of judges composed of representatives from Metroweb, Marangoni Institute and the National Chamber for Italian Fashion, has chosen two young fashion designers: Alessandro Garofalo and Santi who will see there manhole brought to life.

The manholes will decorate the sidewalks of via Montenapoleone and via Sant’Andrea until January 2016. Afterwards, following careful restoration they will be auctioned by Christie’s and the proceeds will be entirely donated to charity in favor of the non-profit organization Oxfam Italia, Civil Society Participant of the 2015 Expo, with the goal of improving the socio-economic conditions of about 20.000 people in Italy and overseas, thanks to the efforts of micro-businesses and cooperatives, especially in the area of agriculture and food.

We have chosen ours: which one is your favorite?