The Next Generation of “Made in Italy”

Preciosa: One thing that fans have come to expect from you, Giuliano, is high impact. Yet your designs are also extremely wearable, and your use of embellishment always feels purposeful. How do Preciosa crystals enhance GCDS’ brand DNA?

Giuliano Calza: GCDS has a very irreverent fanbase. They want to feel special all the time, even while partaking in day-to-day activities. But that does not mean everything needs to be completely over the top all the time. I like to use crystals in unexpected ways, like filling the negative space on a cardigan — which we did for the last collection — so that it feels like a moving painting ready to be worn. Crystals also compliment my Y2K nostalgia.

Preciosa: For the brand’s SS 2022 “Island Appropriate” collection, you worked a lot with crystals on knitwear. What are your favorite materials to embellish?

GC: Yes, the crystals blend flawlessly with knitwear, creating an incredible garment both in real life and in photos. We once covered a black sweater in black Preciosa crystals – it felt like a deep black ocean. I will never forget that piece. I also really enjoy working with crystals on denim.

Preciosa: It’s no secret that Bohemian crystals made in Europe come with a higher price tag for the producer—and ultimately the end consumer—than stones produced elsewhere and/or of lesser quality. Is there a place for higher price tags in ready to wear if they are attached to higher quality garments?

GC: I believe so! My generation and the next are much more interested in transparency and overall quality. They educate themselves and care about the ethics of the brands they buy from. More expensive materials, like crystals, are not just for couture anymore. They belong everywhere, from water bottles to men’s knitwear. High quality materials just make a garment more precious, and it’s becoming easier to see and feel the difference.

Preciosa: What do you appreciate most about working with Preciosa crystals?

GC: I absolutely do not want to find myself producing something unethical, or in a situation where we are investing a lot into environmental responsibility and then find out that the embellishment, which is supposed to be the most precious part, is the least precious of all. I want to make the difference for my generation by fighting to make ideals a reality. I feel that Preciosa is investing in the same thing.