The new book The Squarzi Archive by Mirko di Giovanni and Andrea Ventura dives into the remarkable collection of Italian style icon Alessandro Squarzi, founder of the Fortela brand. Spanning 176 pages, the book celebrates a wide array of denim, hunting, army, and sportswear styles, each piece meticulously photographed by David Petrini, who also contributed as co-author. Published by Schiffer Publishing, The Squarzi Archive book is available now.
I took the opportunity to sit down and chat with one of the co-authors, Mirko di Giovanni, to explore the inspiration and stories behind the book.
The Interview With Mirko di Giovanni
Can you introduce yourself? Who are you and what are you doing?
MdG: I’m Mirko di Giovanni, born and raised in Rome, Italy – class of ’75. My passion for American clothing started in my adolescence and was influenced mostly by ’70s and ’80s American movies and TV series.
Actually, I work for an Italian Law Enforcement Agency and my team specializes in counterfeit goodies. My passion for genuine clothing helps me a lot in my work.
People might know you from the book you worked on earlier together with Andrea Ventura called ‘’Rugged Style War- Rome’’. What are the differences between the two books?
MdG: Rugged style War – Rome is a “coral” book. The vintage items featured were mostly from my collection and Andrea Ventura’s (co-author and pal), but with some contributions from collectors from all over the world. The Squarzi Archive is a “One Man Show”.
The book highlights a glimpse of the impressive vintage collection of Alessandro Squarzi. Can you share how the idea of this book came alive? And how long did the process to realize the book?
MdG: We (me and Andrea Ventura) have known Alessandro since the 00s when he was already a successful entrepreneur, but not yet a social media style icon.
So when we had to choose influential people for the endorsements for Rugged Style War Rome. He was glad to write a few impressive words (that we published on the cover of the book). As he probably appreciated what we had done with our first book, he asked us if we would like to work on his “secret” archive. In the arch of one year with the COVID pandemic just behind us, we made some journeys to his “Area 51” in Forli (Romagna region). The place where the archive is kept and some more in Rimini, where Alessandro has a beautiful villa just in front of Adriatic sea, and finally in Milan, where there is the nerve center of his business.
So the book is focused on the archive but has a “backstory” about an untold Alessandro. His passions, his thoughts, and his vision about vintage, fashion, and the future of clothing.
Behind the lenses, there was David Petrini (the other co-author/photographer), who converted the Squarzi collection (and passions) into beautiful and intense shots. Last, but not least the foreword is written by Alessandro’s great friend Scott Schuman, aka “The Sartorialist”.
How did you know about Alessandro’s vintage collection?
MdG: We heard many legends about his vintage archive but we discovered the real quality (and quantity) of the haul after the publisher gave us the green light. A kind of “sight unseen”.
Moreover, at the beginning of the project, we were almost skeptical about the garms in his Forli’s bunker, as we are too high-end vintage collectors. The first time we saw it was definitely a great WOW!!!!
The collection of Alessandro contains around 6,000 pieces. How long did it take to go through the collection to make a selection for the book? And how did you make the selection I can imagine that it’s super hard to choose.
MdG: Exactly! The hardest step of the work was to select the garms that MUST be featured. The publisher imposed a limited number of pages and it made our selection like a “Camel to pass through the eye of a needle”. So we tried to balance all the stuff he collected. Trying to give the readers an exhaustive overview of the various styles, fabrics (and decades) that make up his extraordinary archive.
The book is divided into different chapters showing denim, military, outdoor, leather jackets, and sportswear. Do you have a favorite chapter yourself and why? And do you know which chapter Allesandro loves the most?
MdG: As a collector, before being (co)author, I love the book in its entirety. Every chapter is a piece of a puzzle. Frankly, I don’t know which one is Alessandro’s favorite, but I can say that when he was handling and talking about “denim garms”. His eyes had a more brilliant “shining”.
If you can pick just one item from the book, which one would be your favorite? And Alessandro’s you think?
MdG: You know I have another feed on IG called The NAVY-ism where I love to share my passion for old Navy with salty pics of the past and Navy garms. So I go for the ultra-rare USN N-1 in the transitional blue colorway: a real holy grail for collectors.
About Alessandro, I’m not sure and don’t want to say something wrong, but I guess nobody will have an answer if you ask a dad which one is his favorite son…
Do you know how Alessandro collected all these vintage styles? Where were they bought mainly in Italy or on his travels to get inspiration for his brand Fortela?
MdG: Alessandro started his collection as a “Youngster” in the 1980s. He used to go to Bologna’s famous flea market, on his 5occ moped, called “La Montagnola”. He still has the garm he defined the “first piece” of his collection. A lovely faded Levi’s “Big E”, that comes from that flea (obviously featured in the book).
But, over the years and thanks to his incredible career in the fashion industry, his hunting area has become basically the world. From the U.S. to Japan passing from great scores on the web.
And the result of his 4 decades of research and knowledge is clearly palpable in Fortela’s collections.
As the collection of Alessandro Squarzi is so huge, can we expect a volume 2 in the future? Or another book with your own vintage collection?
MdG: At the moment I’m enjoying the positive and enthusiastic reviews of The Squarzi Archive. About the future I have some ideas, but, right now, are just ideas.
The book ‘The Squarzi Archive’ is out now, published by Schiffer. How and where can people get the book?
MdG: The book is published by the Pennsylvania-based Schiffer Publishing and is available on the editor website. Next to that, on Amazon, and on the most prestigious bookstores and online bookstores.
Obviously, it is also available in Squarzi headquarters, the Fortela stores and in more selected clothing boutiques around the world.
