The new Artistic Director of Montblanc, Marco Tomasetta, tells us about his journey. After a long career working in some of the world’s most famous fashion houses – including Gucci, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton – today he unveils his vision of the Montblanc man, also reinterpreting the brand’s heritage in the new leather goods collections.
“All my designs come first and foremost from creativity, and the most successful products were conceived casually and instinctively”
When did you first notice your passion for creativity?
It all started with the world of cinema, which has fascinated me ever since I was a child, but also Naples, my parents’ hometown that has and continues to greatly inspire me. With its strong personalities, the place has strongly boosted my passion for art. Cinema allowed me to imagine art, beauty and emotion, which continue to be the main characteristic of my approach to fashion. What have you brought to Montblanc from your past experiences in great fashion houses? Each brand left me something different. I have worked for family-run businesses, and I take their background and roots with me. But all my designs come first and foremost from creativity, and the most successful products were conceived casually and instinctively.
What direction are you taking Montblanc in today?
I feel very aligned with the brand: its world starts from writing, and I’m focusing on giving each piece its own path. My work starts from the materials and the archives, but I’m fully aware that we must consult the past with humility; with the right experience, we can work to renew.
“The Extreme 3.0 collection was created to meet the needs of those who are out and about every day, redefining the limits of technical innovation”
Let’s talk about the Extreme 3.0 collection featured in our shooting. How much does it represent you?
The collection was created to meet the needs of those who are out and about every day, redefining the limits of technical innovation to reach new heights in terms of strength and performance. I started with the smooth surface, the origin of Montblanc’s leather, then I added details that recall the past. Looking at old diaries with penned sketches, I found marking the leather appropriate. The shapes are more current and closer to the new generation.
“I like to think about the fluidity of the things I make, just like the fluid flow of ink”
What’s your favorite accessory?
I love drawing, so I would say the iconic Meisterstück pen. I prefer the notion of a drawing rather than the finished product, and in this sense, I most appreciate the energy that feeds me creativity.
What shapes are best suited to the tastes of young people?
Such new shapes don’t really exist, as the models are repeated over the years. I would say the backpack, the messenger bag, a modern, proportioned document case, perhaps smaller considering the necessities of modernity. The unmissable feature is the internal pen holder (the brand’s code), which can never be missing. This year my goal is to make the following three shapes iconic: document case, backpack, and tote bag, the three pillars of every leather goods company.
What are your plans for the coming months?
The year to present the new Montblanc man, to talk about masculinity and rituals in our approach to all the objects we discussed. To convey the brand and a new concept of dandy that also includes women, without any sexualized accessories. I like to think about the fluidity of the things I make, just like the fluid flow of ink.
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