INTRODUCTION

THE GUIDE STANDS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROOM FROM THE WINDOWS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WALL WITH THE TWO BANNERS ON EITHER SIDE SO THAT THE VISITORS ARE IN FRONT:

Welcome! ITS Arcademy - Museum of Art in Fashion isn’t just a fashion museum. It is a place that stands at the intersection of art and fashion, a celebration of creativity and the stories that inspire it.

Arcademy, a seemingly strange name where the 'r' is not a mistake. It is a neologism that combines the words Ark, Archive, and Academy. Ark because we travel and collect the best creativity from around the world; Archive because we want to protect, preserve, and archive it; Academy because we will use it to inspire new generations of creatives through educational experiences.

We have completely renovated and redesigned this beautiful space. This used to be the Cassa di Risparmio di Trieste, the city's main bank. Today these are the headquarters of Fondazione CRTrieste, our historical partner, to whom we are grateful for donating this location to us. The building was designed by architect Enrico Nordio in 1891 and inaugurated in 1894.

ITS Arcademy is the ever-evolving result of a journey that began over 20 years ago with ITS Contest, the international fashion competition for young designers created to discover and support the most interesting expressions of creativity. Through ITS Contest, we have collected 14,840 projects from 80 different countries, selecting about 700 finalists. This immense treasure represents the beating heart of ITS Arcademy and it is the heritage of Fondazione ITS.

Enrico Nordio was born in Trieste on September 24th, 1851, to Domenico, a master builder originally from Chioggia. He completed his technical studies and later enrolled in the architecture school at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He underwent a long apprenticeship in the studio of Friedrich von Schmidt, with whom he collaborated on the restoration of St. Stephen's Cathedral (1863) and the design of the Rathaus (1872-1883). He worked in Zagreb with Hermann Bollè and moved to Trento in 1879, where he directed the local industrial school and restored the cathedral. He tied for second place in the competition for the facade of the Cathedral of Milan. Upon returning to Trieste in 1887, he taught at the industrial school and became a leading figure in the city's architectural activity. Among his works in Trieste are the church of San Vincenzo de' Paoli (1890-1905), the Palazzo della Cassa di Risparmio (1891), and the Palazzo del Tribunale (1921). He passed away on December 3rd, 1923.

AIM

Our goal wasn’t to just collect, protect and document the history of contemporary fashion through its freest and most artistic expressions, but also to inspire you, surprise you, and guide you in rediscovering the creativity within you. At the end of this short but hopefully intense journey, we want to reignite your desire to create. And by entering the Open Box, the first stop on your visit, you will understand why.

POINTING AT THE FLOOR PLAN:

SPACES

Now let's take a look at the map: how does ARCADEMY unfold?

The spaces we will explore are:

  • THE OPEN BOX
  • ITS STORY
  • THE LIBRARY through THE MANIFEST
  • THE GALLERY
  • THE WUNDERKAMMER
  • THE ARCHIVE

OPEN BOX

IF THE TIMER ON THE OPEN BOX COUNTDOWN SCREEN DISPLAYS MORE THAN 30 SECONDS LEFT:

The video you are about to watch was created by our creative director, Fabio Bressan. The ambition was to summarize the philosophical meaning of ITS Arcademy, in particular that creativity belongs to everyone and is an important and fundamental quality of human beings, giving you the opportunity to reflect on this during your visit. Daphne Guinness, fashion icon, philanthropist and member of the Advisory Board of ITS Arcademy, will tell you more.

Daphne Guinness is a British and Irish fashion designer, art collector, model and socialite. Born on November 9, 1967, Guinness is known for her distinctive personal style, which often incorporates avant-garde and couture fashion pieces. She comes from the Guinness brewing family and has been involved in various creative endeavors throughout her life.

Guinness gained prominence in the fashion world due to her unique and eclectic sense of style, which has been featured in numerous fashion publications. She has also collaborated with various designers and artists on projects ranging from fashion collections to music albums.

In addition to her contributions to the fashion industry, Guinness is also known for her philanthropic work and support of various charitable causes. She has been involved in initiatives related to mental health awareness, HIV/AIDS research and arts.

Overall, Daphne Guinness is celebrated for her creativity, individuality, and contributions to both the fashion world and society at large.

IF THE TIMER ON THE OPEN BOX COUNTDOWN SCREEN DISPLAYS LESS THAN 30 SECONDS LEFT:

Let's now step inside the Open Box!