FEATURE

from ALEXANDRE MATTIUSSI, Miami, December 2022 / January 2023

HAUTE TRAVEL

For Mattiussi, Miami is a part of his American dream.

“You have to imagine me,” Mattiussi explains when speaking about expanding his presence in Miami. “For me, it’s a dream come true. From the French perspective as a designer, America is still the dream; it is still something you hope to achieve in your lifetime.”

Mattiussi opened an AMI store on the highly coveted corner of Greene and Spring streets in New York’s SoHo neighborhood, and in 2023, AMI will open its doors in the Miami Design District, a neighborhood that stands at the intersection of art, design and fashion — not to mention the near-future, with plans to open in Los Angeles.

Ahead of the inaugural AMI Miami boutique, Mattiussi is fully immersing himself in the Magic City culture by bringing Family, a traveling art exhibition showcasing the collaboration between AMI and Magnum Photos, to Art Basel Miami Beach this year. The two came together to commission 13 members of the renowned photography agency, along with two guest video artists, to interpret the theme of family. “When we approached the artists, we gave complete carte blanche,” says Mattiussi. “I am here to support, help guide and understand — it truly became a beautiful exhibition about family.” Family also took the physical form of a book housing the artists’ works, published by Flammarion.

There’s no denying art is an integral part of his creative process. Throughout our Zoom interview, I couldn’t help but notice a stunning painting propped up against the wall behind Mattiussi —and he immediately lit up when I asked about it. “This is a painting by a Romanian painter, Alin Bozbiciu,” he said, pulling it back to show another painting behind it. He then panned his video to reveal other artwork in his studio space, like a quirky, cool sculpture with the signature AMI heart logo. “I have more pieces in my home,” he coyly admits. “I am really starting to collect [art] a bit; for me, it’s love at first sight. Sometimes, you just fall in love with a picture.”

Coming full circle with the AMI Paris x Magnum Photos project, Mattiussi admires the art of a photograph. “Photography, for me, is life. It is the moment of time, a moment of now and never. It’s frozen time. That is why the partnership with Magnum Photos is so great; the agency came together to give an intentional interpretation of family through the photo medium,” he says.

Fashion is Mattiussi’s medium for capturing time. Mattiussi measures success by seeing real people in his clothes. “As a fashion designer, to be successful is to see people around the world in my clothes, living,” he starts to say — the energy through the screen shifts, and Mattiussi softens. “I feel very lucky to be able to do what I love the most,” he adds.

“You see the greatest reward when you are connected with your own desires and own creativity, and to be able to make something from it,” he explains with the utmost gratitude. “I do not take that for granted.”

It’s inspiring to feel Mattiussi’s passion pour through my computer. He has a true hunger for creating, especially in the world today, where he notes that people no longer feel ashamed and want to dress well — powerful and sexy. There is no question that Mattiussi’s vision is clear. “I have had the great opportunity to try a lot of things [in my design career]; I had a lot of experiences and made a lot of mistakes. But now, I am at a very special point in my life where I can focus and go in straight on my ideas,” he says.

Indeed, if there is one thing I know, it’s that while Mattiussi continues to make his American dreams come true, he will never lose sight of his most authentic self and ideas.

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