Projects

Pomodoro

I have always admired Italian fashion. Whether that was the way my mother would drape a dirty dish towel over her burgundy blouses, or from the sound I would hear from my aunts walking down the stairs as their bracelets would clash and laughter would fill the room. As they sat around the island, cutting fruit or peeling chestnuts, I was enamored by the way they would obliviously express themselves through patterns, accessories, and the simple details of comfort. My primary purpose in approaching my final project was to articulate what I once felt as a child into a brand that would resonate with others from diverse backgrounds. My Italian heritage means everything to me, and I wanted to express that through a campaign that was not only wearable but memorable. “Pomodoro” – meaning tomato in Italian – brings fashion and meaning into wardrobes, all while serving the purpose of sharing special moments with loved ones around the table. 

My original idea for “Pomodoro” was to have a color palette that ranges between burnt reds with accents of black and white patterns, specifically polka dots, with mini slips, long work dresses, and classic denim. These pieces were imagined to be worn in settings that revolve around the kitchen, running errands, or travelling, but still being versatile in a way that is accessible and achievable for all. When deciding on how I wanted to portray “Pomodoro”, visually, I was immediately inspired by the history of Sorrento and Rome and the secret corners it held with each street. When I first visited these cities, I was captivated by the way the clothes would drape from window to window, as Vespas and delivery trucks would breeze by them. As you went from store to store, not only were the materials high-class, but also the women who spoke about them. I remember listening and taking pictures of the women who would be sitting outside after work with an espresso and a cigarette lit in their hand, as they would wear a wrapped blouse and a head scarf to hold back their curly hair, with a signature red lip. Effortless and attractive, two elements that were necessary for “Pomodoro”. 

Vogue Italia senior beauty editor and video director, Sofia Carlotta Vigano, describes her connection to Milanese fashion in an interview with Ada Kokosar for Vogue by saying, “the Italian touch, for me, is a mix of many things: a sense of beauty; craftsmanship; elegance; natural style; harmony in shapes, colors, and proportions; unconventional and effortless allure; confidence; and fierceness.” (Viagano, Vogue) These attributes became the main reason for how I wanted to capture “Pomodoro” in several campaigns that all played a role in one story. I brought together a group of friends in an organic way of celebrating friendship through food and laughter, all while wearing polka dots, blouses, denim, dresses, and the signature head scarf that tied everything together. As I shot, styled, and directed this shoot, what began was my main motive for this brand; my models weren’t just wearing the clothes, they were living in them. 

The final product of my project was everything and more for me, and as I worked with peers to edit and critique my work to its best ability, I am not only happy with what I have produced but also proud to represent my background, which is meant to create memories with the ones we love most. To be able to create a piece of work through photography and direction that held so much meaning to me and my upbringing is something I will forever cherish, and although this is a fictional brand, “Pomodoro” can live in and on us all and is meant to be shared.