Interview with Niccoló Pasqualetti

During Paris Fashion Week we sat down with Niccoló Pasqualetti who was an LVMH finalist in 2024 and is one of the new, young designers showing in Paris.

Ansgar Werrelmann for Neo.Fashion.:

What’s your advice for a fashion graduate who is just starting out?

Niccoló Pasqualetti:

Young people seem to have a clear idea of what they like in fashion but I think it is important to try out many different things. For example when I finished school I worked for a company and I thought I did not want to have my own brand. But I realised that wasn’t really my way and I did not agree with how some things were dealt with. My advice would be to remain curious and to experience things that might turn out different from your expectation. At the same time you need to have the strength to carry on with it and then find your own way.

Ansgar Werrelmann:

Ok, that’s when you found your own company. What if you decide to work for another brand, usually starting with an internship; how do you get out of this circle of doing internship after internship and finally finding a paid job?

Niccoló Pasqualetti:

Laughs. After my graduation I was lucky to have a job right away, first for a small jewelry brand in London and then I worked in Paris for Loewe for two and a half years. Right now it is not an easy moment for fashion in general but I think that there’s a lot of space for someone bringing something unique. And people in the brand you intern for will recognise your passion and your commitment. The key is passion and people you work with will realise that this is something you really want.

Ansgar Werrelmann:

If you look at your own career, what was the most useful help you got?

Niccoló Pasqualetti:

I think I was lucky to have really special mentors since the beginning. I am talking about people like Carla and Sara Sozzani who believed in me from the start. Someone I could reach out to when I had doubts or questions. It was the same when I did my master with the director; it is always good to have points of reference and to build this sort of community around you. I think this is very important.

Ansgar Werrelmann:

You mentioned it is not an easy time in fashion; if you could make a wish, what should fashion be like in the future?

Niccoló Pasqualetti:

It would be more intimate. I think it will be more separated between large groups that are all about marketing, selling and margins. And on the other side there will be really small and independent brands that propose something different and are not into the logics of selling just for the sake of it.

Ansgar Werrelmann:

I hope your vision becomes reality, thanks a lot!

Interview and photos: Ansgar Werrelmann