Pierre-Louis Mascia is known to be unmatched in the art of mixing, layering, and combining prints: he does so with an uncanny freedom and a strong graphic sense, which he probably developed during his first jobs as a fashion illustrator for magazines like Vogue USA and Elle. Before launching his first line in 2007, in partnership with the Uliassi brothers, he was also artistic director of the Première Classe show, and responsible for accessories lines for Clergerie, Stéphane Kélian, and Arche. His connection with Achille Pinto, an Italian company developing prints, was decisive and gave birth to a collection of scarves, soon followed by a ready-to-wear line under his own name. Since then, Pierre-Louis Mascia has reconciled technology and craftsmanship, knowledge and know-how, in the design of original and emotionally charged garments.

Pierre-Louis Mascia uses collage to create complex patterns of surprising visual clarity that he prints on wearables. He seamlessly merges the fiery and the softly organic within the same frame, relying on sudden reversals, unexpected parallels and optical duplicity.

"I feel more like a designer than a fashion designer. Mixing different patterns, a constant attention to the color palette and the use of certain materials define the identity of my collections," he says. "Each season, I start by mixing references, patterns and designs, and then I gradually reduce them into a collection." Cut-up is an integral part of his life and practice, from the prints he designs to a lifestyle where he constantly commutes between France and Italy.

ACHILLE PINTO SPA

Pierre-Louis Mascia's collections are manufactured and distributed by Achille Pinto, a historic textile and printing company based in Como: from the raw fabric to the sophisticated finishing techniques, every step shows technical skill and attention to detail, all guided by a passion for handcrafted products "Made in Italy". The company was founded in 1933 thanks to the spirit and will of the young Achille Pinto, a man of great charisma and expertise in the textile industry. Originally, the company manufactured printed fabrics and jacquards for ties. Over the years, it has expanded its production line to include fabrics for scarves and women's wear. This versatility allowed the company to follow a very important growth curve and to acquire an international reputation as one of the main manufacturers of natural, synthetic and artificial fabrics. In the 1970s, Achille Pinto's son-in-law, Mario Uliassi, took over the reins of the company. In the same years, important partnerships were established with the Japanese multinationals Toray and Mitsui, which allowed the company to reach increasingly ambitious goals and sales figures, and to consolidate the internationalization process that had been initiated.