COMBINING STYLE AND WELL-BEING… GLAMOUR AND ETHICS MEET.
The dream of creating and innovating by putting oneself on the line in southern Italy.
A young, innovative and natural textile-oriented brand, Malìa lab was born in Calabria, in 2016 in Guardavalle Marina, a small village of 2000 souls on the Ionian coast. The idea of creating a fashion atelier where craftsmanship and innovative organic fabrics are combined is that of Flavia Amato, a young stylist and model maker from Calabria, who returned to her region after an eight-year training course in the Marche region, made up of universities, courses and internships in third-party companies. The choice is not accidental, it hides a strong desire for revenge, redemption and pride, the pride of those who dream that their example can serve others and be followed. It is not easy to do business in a harsh, hard and little-known area, but it is a wonderful challenge because it is rich in history, quality and traditions that need to be brought out to enhance the good things that exist in this region.
OUR LOGO
THE SPINDLE, MORE THAN JUST A TOOL
The spindle is not just a tool, it is a paradigm of “savoir faire”, a symbol and synonym of craftsmanship.
The search for a logo that could summarise so many meanings and encapsulate the concepts of the Malìa line was by no means simple. The need to enhance the craftsmanship of the packaging and a return to the past, choosing natural fabrics and yarns from the country’s historical memory such as hemp. Yarns that were and must make a comeback, because they have superior characteristics compared to synthetic fibres and, above all, are the result of cultivations that lead to a rediscovery of healthy traditional agriculture. The spindle is an instrument deeply linked to the collective and popular imagination.
FLAVIA AMATO
When I started out, I knew there would be many difficulties, but I never gave up. If there’s one thing I can recommend to those who want to pursue their dreams, it’s never give up. The important thing is to accept that the greatest failure is not defeat, but not having tried.
BACK TO CALABRIA
I had no choice but to return to Calabria, to my homeland, to create something so important and valuable: a choice made out of opportunity, pride and the desire to show that my region is more than you think, and above all to recover and pass on the regional know-how in textiles. So I packed my bags and my boyfriend and headed down the 900km to my old home. Together we renovated an old room in the centre of town, which my parents own, and in those 50 square metres we created a textile workshop, where I produce and make my collections. Doing business in general is not easy, especially if you’re in the south, especially if you’re a woman and especially if you’re alone and don’t have much money to work with, but I put all the good will and effort I can into it. In my organic tailoring shop I make and make garments following ancient values of tailoring, to create clothes that last over time. Mine is a new concept of fashion: artisanal and sustainable, with a focus on the well-being of the body and the environment, but above all, a fashion that breaks away from consumerism and creates its own trends.
