“The act of reworking the jersey felt symbolic —taking something original and adding a personal touch, much like adding a piece of myself.”
Born in Charleroi, Alessa Altavilla grew up primarily in Belgium and would eventually move to its capital Brussels to study fashion design. It is a city that has been her home now for the last 10 years.
“For me, Brussels is a cosmopolitan place where I found the freedom to express myself creatively,” Alessa explains. “The city offered me a thriving environment in my field, which was incredibly valuable for my professional development.”
The last 4 years have seen Alessa sharing her artistic vision as a fashion designer and stylist with a range of talented artists across dance, music and the small screen, where she gained a sterling reputation for her innovative and creative work.
As a fashion designer, her speciality lies in streetwear where she has always been influenced by hip-hop culture, and her creative sense of adventure has seen her play with high fashion, mixing both fields to create something unique of her own.
in collaboration with 90 Vintage Football Store in Brussels, Alessa’s latest project saw the reinventing of a classic Italian football shirt through the art of embroidery from the incredibly talented Diana Al Shammari who beautifully and thoughtfully redesigned it with delicate and detailed floral embroidering bringing a personal and symbolic touch to the jersey for Alessa.
It is a piece of work that celebrates her roots in Puglia and is dedicated to her grandparents who inspired and influenced her career in fashion.
“The act of reworking the jersey felt symbolic—taking something original and adding a personal touch, much like adding a piece of myself.”
It was a pleasure for The Atlantic Dispatch to sit down with Alessa as she spoke more about her latest project, what it means and how her family and heritage have inspired her.
I BELIEVE THIS PASSION WAS SPARKED BY MY GRANDPARENTS
Even before I was born, while I was still in my mother’s womb, we would spend every summer in Italy, reconnecting with our whole family, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. As I grew older, around the age of 5 or 6, I developed a growing fascination with clothing and fabrics.
I believe this passion was sparked by my grandparents. Each summer when we returned to Italy, I would spend hours in my grandfather’s workshop. He was a tailor, and my grandmother was a seamstress.
Their workshop was on the ground floor of their house, filled with old machines, patterns, and mirrors, though it had been inactive for some years since they retired. Instead of taking afternoon Italian naps, I preferred to explore this space, digging through their belongings.
It was during these moments that my curiosity for fashion truly began to take shape, especially my deep interest in clothing and the history behind it
PAYING HOMAGE TO MY ROOTS
My latest project, I would describe as a love letter, a tribute to my region of Puglia, my hometown Lecce, and especially to my family in Italy, most of whom still live there.
This project has been on my mind for a long time. For me, it was a way to express this love, to capture it like a snapshot in time.
Since 2021, after my grandfather—my last surviving grandparent—passed away, it became even more important for me to pay homage to my roots.
Losing him made me realise how crucial it is to remember where we come from. As we grow older, we also understand that our roots are vital to feeling whole, grounded, and truly connected to the world.
It was very important for me to create these photos this year. I had the chance to collaborate with the 90 vintage store in Brussels, who kindly provided the jersey that was customised for the project.
It reflects who I am: Italian, but also someone who grew up in Belgium. This dual identity was something I wanted to highlight.
The setup for the photo shoot was in my grandparents’ living room, where family photos are displayed on the wall, reflecting the history of our family and all the important events.
The setup may not be the most artistic, but it is certainly the most authentic in my life. It features my little nephew, who represents the fifth generation in our family. He is my brother’s son, and I find it beautiful that he’s part of this project. It feels like an accomplishment for my grandparents, who worked so hard to give us the life we have today.
EVERYTHING IN LIFE CAN CHANGE SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO TRY
The challenges in my career involve being independent and working for myself on a daily basis. It requires a certain level of discipline and organisation, which was difficult to achieve at first.
Another challenge is avoiding stagnation, and constantly finding ways to reinvent myself. I believe one of the biggest challenges is continuously questioning and reassessing oneself
The best advice I’ve ever received is, ‘You have to try to know.’ It means that unless I try, I’ll never know if something will work or not. This is a phrase I constantly remind myself of—everything in life can change, so it’s important to try.
Every problem has a solution, and step-by-step, with hard work, discipline, and determination, we can achieve anything.
IT’S NEVER TO STREET OR TO CLASSIC
I think what stands out in my work is that no matter what style I explore, there is always a strong streetwear foundation.
I’m heavily influenced by the world of hip-hop. I’ve always been drawn to this culture that originated in New York, in contrast with my Italian side, which is more classic, elegant, and polished.
This blend shapes my personal style, where streetwear is always the base, but I strive to ensure that the people I dress exude elegance.
It’s never too street or too classic, I believe it’s a good balance of both. Of course, each project comes with its own requirements and intentions, so I also adapt to the artist’s world and the overall mood of the project.
THEY PUSH ME TO GIVE MY BEST
When I’m not working, I really enjoy watching series and films from all different eras. They inspire me a lot in my work and projects. Whether they’re historical or contemporary, I love seeing how people dressed in the past and thinking about which elements could be interesting to incorporate today.
Sometimes, I watch a series and find myself completely captivated—not just by the story, but by the beautiful sets, the fascinating costumes, and the overall production. The way everything is put together fascinates me.
Beyond that, I would say that the thing that relaxes me the most is spending time with my friends and family, who are just as inspiring. They push me to give my best, and that’s something incredibly important to me.
As for the rest of 2024, my ultimate dream would be to work on a project in Italy someday. I really want to explore the creative scene there.
I’m not sure how to break into it, since I don’t have many contacts in southern Italy, the worlds of art and fashion aren’t as developed, and I think the opportunities are more in the north, but unfortunately, I know almost no one in my field there. Still, I hope that one day I’ll make it happen!
All our thanks to Alessa Altavilla.
For more information on Alessa please click here.
To follow her social media please click here.