The power of Italian style: The Italian Sea Group

MINDS: THE ITALIAN SEA GROUP

THE POWER OF ITALIAN STYLE

by Désirée Sormani

Its new 72-metre is the first Admiral to be designed by Giorgio Armani. This refined, elegant yacht is the result of an encounter between yacht-building and fashion excellence, a perfect mix of magnificence and dynamism

ph. courtesy by The Italian Sea Group

Giovanni Costantino, Founder & CEO of the Italian Sea Group, and the couture stylist, king of the international fashion runways, Giorgio Armani, together on stage during the presentation of the Admiral 72m. The project was developed by Giorgio Armani and his team in partnership with the Admiral style centre, and the yacht will be handed over to its owner Costas Cleanthous, founder and CEO of Trading Point, in early 2024

©Lucas Possiede ©Lucas Possiede

The new 72-metre Admiral is an haute couture yacht created by two centres of excellence – Admiral, the hallmark brand of The Italian Sea Group, a company that designs and builds megayachts admired for their elegance, classic appearance and prestige, and Giorgio Armani, king of the high fashion runways, a figure who needs no introduction. The Admiral 72m is the embodiment of a collaboration between yachtbuilding and fashion excellence. “This megayacht, the result of an exciting partnership that I’m extremely proud of, is the latest confirmation of our ability to take on unique, increasingly ambitious projects with Italian centres of excellence, brands that share our values”, says Giovanni Costantino, founder & CEO of the Italian Sea Group. A global operator in the luxury yacht industry, quoted on Euronext Milan and active in the construction and refit of motor yachts and sailing yachts up to 140 metres in length, the group has already forged partnerships with the most prestigious Italian luxury brands. One example resulted in Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63”, a motor yacht developed and built in collaboration with Automobili Lamborghini, a limited-edition model with breath-taking performance and innovative design. The group’s brand portfolio includes Admiral, known for its prestigious, elegant yachts, Tecnomar, famous for yachts with a sporty character, cutting edge design and high performance, Perini Navi, a centre of excellence in the large sail yacht sector, Picchiotti, a long-established Italian yard producing yachts

The design is rigorous yet extremely appealing, with a clear architectural influence. Large, geometric and imposing volumes combine in a perfect equilibrium with softer, more curved spaces. The generous exterior spaces encourage socialisation and contact with the surrounding seascape

with classic, elegant lines and NCA Refit, handling repairs and refits. Conceived in 2020, the yacht - developed by Giorgio Armani and his team in collaboration with Admiral’s style centre – interprets and blends the DNA of the two brands. “Giorgio Armani is an icon of timeless elegance and refinement and his stylistic vision has helped us hone our aesthetic awareness”, Costantino continues. “It’s a confirmation of our business model, which is oriented towards customisation of every detail to make all our yachts totally unique”.

The idea for the project arose when Giovanni Costantino was passing the Armani Casa display window in Milan. He realised that the illustrious Italian high fashion brand could be the perfect choice to interpret a new way of experiencing the sea. Blending the two brands’ DNA has resulted in a unique, cutting edge megayacht. But bringing Giorgio’s magic and talent into the game was no easy task. “It took eight months of talks with the help of the director of Armani/Casa & Hotel, Fabrice Gouffran, but Giorgio Armani had the final say”, said Costantino during the gala event when the yacht was presented. “We fixed an appointment in Milan. It was an exciting moment, a twenty-minute meeting at the end of which Armani thanked me left. He reappeared a short time later holding a big book. He placed it on the table and after opening it and making a sketch he said, “Giovanni, this is the first yacht I’ll design for you”.

The Admiral 72 metre is in fact the first of two yachts designed entirely by Giorgio Armani. His style is immediately recognisable, reflected by both the interiors and exteriors. It embodies sophistication and a pared-down elegance. The design is rigorous yet extremely appealing, with a clear architectural influence. Large, geometric and imposing volumes combine in a perfect equilibrium with softer, more curved spaces.

The Armani/Casa interiors express the brand’s distinctive style, which can be defined as discreet, refined luxury. The décor has a decisive yet relaxed feel, inspiring a pervasive harmony created by melding the different elements into an exclusive whole. Light plays a crucial role and the surrounding panorama becomes a part of the yacht – a large window

and skilful play of sliding panels bring guests closer to the water. “The sea and design are my great passions”, says Giorgio Armani, President and sole administrator of the Armani Group. “This new collaboration enabled me to apply my ideas on furnishing to the yacht building sector. This means that aesthetics and function work together and combine in a natural, elegant style, just as they do in couture. This stimulating project enabled me to create with Armani/Casa personalised spaces like made-

to-measure clothes, with the same artisanal care in the choice of materials and production methods”.

A minimalism that is only apparent unfolds through the use of refined, prestigious materials and select, artisanal finishes combined with a skilful mix of soft and vibrant colours. Costas Cleanthous, the Cypriot owner, is certain to appreciate all this when he steps on board this sartorial yacht in 2024.

The interior decor has a decisive yet relaxed feel, with exclusive materials in a mix of soft, vibrant colours. Light plays a crucial role and the surrounding panorama becomes a part of the yacht – a large window and skilful play of sliding panels bring guests closer to the water.

“ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS” PARTY

Laser

mapping display, high fashion runway show, live music and dinner by celebrity chef Cerea accompanied the yacht’s presentation. With 650 guests, including TheONE Yacht&Design

There had never been anything like it, at least in the yacht and motor cruiser world. There were no half measures involved in showcasing the international debut of the Admiral 72 by Giorgio Armani. The headquarters of The Italian Sea Group became a dreamlike setting, welcoming over 650 guests, including owners, brokers, shareholders, officials, actresses and the international press. Giovanni Costantino, founder and CEO of The Italian Sea Group, introduced proceedings and made a passionate speech about the group’s values, describing the most important events in its history as well as the birth of the partnership with the famous fashion house. A laser mapping display revealed the

Some images of the evening event where the Admiral 72 by Giorgio Armani was unveiled, a starstudded affair with many celebrities and show business names among the guests (centre, the actress Claudia Gerini with Giorgio Armani and Giovanni Costantino)

yacht’s lines, not just a profile but in full, virtual reality, appearing as a white monolith completed to the stage before painting, and where work on fitting out the interiors was shortly to take place. This was followed by an exciting runway show of Giorgio Armani’s spring/summer 2023 collection that ended with the traditional appearance by the stylist, who at the age of almost 90 lit up the stage with his charismatic presence. Finally, in a refined setting, also by Armani, guests enjoyed a private dinner by 3 Michelin Star chef Cerea, representing the “Da Vittorio” restaurant, an icon of Italian fine food and wine, accompanied by a live performance by the cover band Inspiration.

ph. by Lucas Possiede