He likes to call himself a multifaceted artist, and the list of titles on his business card explains why. Fashion designer, designer and painter, Davide Cristofaro is one of those young talents bound for success. Perfect, refined geometries intertwine in the folds of his silks, and in the intensity of their colours, bold and at the same time nuanced, his works convey the passion and creativity of a simple, spontaneous young man.
There's no denying that yours is a true artistic calling, but was there someone or something that helped it come about?
"Yes, I've had an artistic streak since I was a child, and I think I inherited this gift from my family, especially from my grandfather, who was a painter, and my great-grandfather, a sculptor who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. Even though I never knew them, professionally I feel very close to them."
Considering your constant creations, it's fair to say you've chosen to make the art world your life's work. When did you make that decision?
"I decided to take up this work after the Academy, which is where my flair developed, but I can't hide that in the first years I was very confused, partly because of my age, since I was barely twenty and still had to get my ideas straight."
What did you do before? What were your ambitions?
"I've always enjoyed challenging myself in the kitchen, so at first I enrolled at a hotel school specialising in tourism, and then, after my diploma, I decided to turn my life around by enrolling at the Victoria Academy Moda Designer Institute."
In your view, how hard is it to make a name for yourself in fashion today? What quality helps most of all?
"It's very difficult, because there are so many designers and many established labels already. Anyone trying to offer something new and original has to reckon with a market that tends to make everything the same. I keep attending a great many interviews, even if they don't always work out. Still, I'm convinced that to move forward you need a lot of talent, patience and determination."
Can we say you're a 360-degree artist, not just clothes but paintings and drawings too? Do you feel more of a fashion designer or a painter?
"Good question! I feel much more of a painter. I love getting my hands smeared with paint, I really enjoy doing portraits and working on sacred art, and I always try to bring art and fashion together."
Where do you most often find inspiration for a new design?
"A great ally of mine in this is music, especially ethnic music. I never create without it, but luckily I can find inspiration anywhere, and I even dream many of my designs."
Which haute couture designers do you admire most?
"I greatly admire Roberto Cavalli, Christian Dior, Pucci and Elie Saab of Lebanon."
Colour and pattern dominate your designs. What do you aim for when you create?
"I certainly aim for visual impact, for beauty. I want to spark emotions."
What kind of woman are your clothes meant for?
"For the woman who must know how to dare, but with elegance, a free and enterprising woman who loves to travel and knows how to live."
As a designer, you too must weigh in on one of the most debated topics of recent times: models who are too thin.
"I think it's a problem that should never be underestimated, because today's models are excessively thin. I believe beauty also lies in shape, and I definitely prefer women with Mediterranean features and curves."
The female universe also prevails in your drawings: sensual, seductive women, and in particular scantily clad.
"Yes, I'm a very passionate person. I like women and I like portraying them in all their many facets."
How do you dream of seeing yourself in the future?
"I'd really like to work abroad, but I also hope to open a boutique in Martina Franca and keep the bond that has tied me to this town since childhood."
