C'è tutto un mondo intorno. La vita e il mondo di Elio Fiorucci

The podcast, consisting of seven episodes, traces the life and works of Elio Fiorucci, attempting to offer a clear and complete story. Each episode analyzes the milestones of his career and explores his achievements, with the aim of explaining why Fiorucci was an extraordinary innovator. Indeed, it was he who radically changed the image of Italy between the 1970s and 1980s, introducing new codes of freedom that did not exist before.

1 – The Family Slippers, Corso Buenos Aires and World War II In the 1950s, while his parents maintained a traditional approach, Elio Fiorucci began to renew the product offered, achieving rapid and surprising results. An emblematic example of this innovation was the creation of heeled slippers, an accessory that, at the time, was by no means an everyday consumer item.

2 – The Revolution 1968, Swinging London and galoshes During his frequent trips to London, Fiorucci absorbed the revolutionary atmosphere that the city was experiencing, fueled by the protests of 1968 and Swinging London. That lively energy, which had not yet taken hold in Italy, became a central element in his work. Fiorucci thus succeeded in bringing to a country still tied to traditions and conventions of the past a breath of novelty and freedom.

3 – Corso Vittorio Emanuele Internationalization, countercultures and contraceptives The Galleria Passarella store on Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Milan quickly becomes a point of reference for those who want to be part of a movement of profound change, but also for those looking for a welcoming, carefree and joyful environment. This place, the beating heart of Fiorucci's innovation, becomes the center from which its universe will come to life and spread, uniting international culture, countercultures and the idea of freedom.

4 – The Fiorucci World The little angels, Oliviero Toscani and the first concept store Fiorucci's little angels quickly became the iconic symbol of the brand, representing a desecrating vision of childhood and religion through a pop, ironic and playful aesthetic. These angels are not only a stylistic element, but also a sign of belonging to a community that shares the desire to have fun, meet and feel united by a common vision.

5 – Fiorucci around the world Magazine, Manhattan and Studio 54 Elio Fiorucci has always had a natural inclination to escape from reality, focusing only on the positive aspects and rejecting anything that might cause suffering. This worldview fit perfectly with the cultural atmosphere of New York in the late 1970s, a time when the city was an epicenter of creativity, freedom and transgression. Its brand, with its positive and joyful spirit, found fertile ground in vibrant Manhattan, and in iconic locations such as Studio 54, representing the height of social life and underground culture.

6 – Success, fame and celebrities Between jeans, Madonna and Keith Haring In the 1980s, Fiorucci reached the height of his success, representing the transition from the turbulent 1970s to a hedonistic and carefree decade. With surprising insight, Fiorucci anticipated trends, capturing the spirit of an era before it became mainstream. His world of irony, bright colors, youth and nonconformist spirit became rooted in the collective imagination. It thus became the symbolic brand of an era, still perceived today as an icon of style and freedom.

7 – Legacy The return to Italy, Love Therapy and the legacy Fiorucci's message is an invitation to freedom that still retains the same depth and ability to influence the next generation of designers. His approach continues to promote values of acceptance, understanding and creativity, which remain strongly relevant today. After returning to Italy and the Love Therapy project, Fiorucci left a legacy that goes beyond fashion, becoming a symbol of a worldview that continues to inspire and mark the global creative landscape.

Andrea Batilla, designer and textile researcher for some of the most important Made in Italy brands, also served as director of the fashion school at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan. Author of INSTANT MODA (2019), L’Alfabeto della Moda (2021) and Come Ti Vesti (2023), he provides strategic consulting for luxury brands on an international level.