From its birth in post-war Florence through to Milan’s modern-day creations, a new London show is celebrating the glory days of the “Made in Italy” brand, which today is facing an uncertain future. Spectacular gowns and accessories from top designers and forgotten brands showcase the craftsmanship and style that helped rebuild Italy and its global reputation after World War II. The exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum is entitled “The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014”, but it has a nostalgic air, a reminder of how Italy’s standing in the fashion world has declined. The marketing of Italy as the home of fashion began at the time of the Marshall Plan, the US aid package that helped rebuild parts of Europe destroyed and demoralised by war.
