During Milan Fashion Week, Casa Preti unveiled its FW25 collection, “Ora,” in an immersive performance that blurred the boundaries between fashion, art, and social commentary. Named after the Italian word for “now,” the collection underscores the urgency of peace, using fabric and form to deliver a powerful message against war. Presented in the evocative halls of Corso Venezia 6, the showcase was a deeply symbolic and multi-sensory journey, where garments became the medium for an intimate reflection on conflict, hope, and renewal.
The Essence of Casa Preti: A Modern Take on Timeless Simplicity
Casa Preti, meaning “House of Preti,” takes its name from Mattia Preti, a Caravaggesque painter known for his theatrical use of light and shadow. True to this inspiration, the brand has built a reputation for minimalist yet deeply expressive silhouettes, often reminiscent of clerical robes, monastic tailoring, and timeless simplicity. However, for FW25, designer Mattia Piazza introduced a bold departure from the brand’s signature understated elegance by incorporating elements of dramatic eveningwear, adding a newfound sense of opulence and emotional depth.
Fashion as Protest: A Performance with a Message
The “Ora” collection presentation unfolded as a symbolic ritual against war, engaging visitors in a thought-provoking experience. In one room, performers played a game of battleship, a stark commentary on how society is conditioned from childhood to accept conflict.
The collection itself reflected these themes through contrasting materials and silhouettes—sculptural wool bomber jackets with exaggerated shoulders stood in opposition to the soft elegance of deep purple velvet suits, evoking both power and vulnerability.
At the heart of the presentation, a powerful image took center stage: a performer, clad in a white cotton overcoat adorned with cartridge belts, stood motionless as vestal-like figures delicately inserted gypsophila flowers—Casa Preti’s emblem—into the empty spaces where bullets should have been.
This poetic gesture symbolized the fragility of life and the possibility of renewal, reinforcing the collection’s anti-war message. As a final touch, visitors were gifted a seed enclosed in origami, inviting them to reflect on how small acts of hope can lead to rebirth.
Refined Craftsmanship & Dualistic Design
Beyond its philosophical depth, the FW25 collection remained true to Casa Preti’s sartorial expertise, embracing clean lines, impeccable tailoring, and an interplay of opposites. The garments balanced the whispered and the ostentatious, the essential and the decorative, crafting a narrative that was as much about elegance as it was about introspection.
Textures played a key role in this sensory experience—fine wools, rich velvets, and structured silks created a dialogue between sculpture and fluidity, while floral embroidery added delicate, symbolic details.
With “Ora,” Casa Preti has both expanded its creative vocabulary and reinforced its identity as a brand that marries sartorial precision with storytelling.
By introducing eveningwear-inspired designs alongside its signature minimalist pieces, Mattia Piazza has opened a new chapter, proving that fashion can be both profoundly intellectual and strikingly wearable.
Casa Preti FW25 is a call to awareness, a poetic rebellion, and a tribute to the enduring power of thoughtful design.
