Carzi

Carzi, formerly known as Atero Carzi, is a Caphirian luxury fashion house and company founded in 1908 by Alchisianco Carzi. The house produces both haute couture-inspired artisanal collections and ready-to-wear collections, although Carzi is best known today for its high-end accessories. The company's products are renowned for their quality and craftsmanship, with many pieces featuring intricate designs and hand-stitched details. The company's iconic "Carzi C" symbol appears on most of its accessories, ranging from luxury bags and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, perfumes, watches, and jewelry.

Carzi sells its products through its standalone boutiques, as well as high-end departmental stores worldwide. The company has a strong presence in Levantia and Sarpedon, and is known for its partnerships with other luxury brands and designers.

Since 2011, Carzi has been owned by the luxury goods conglomerate Effrasă. Under Effrasă's ownership, Carzi has continued to expand its brand and product offerings, while maintaining its focus on quality and luxury. The company has also continued to push the boundaries of fashion, experimenting with new materials and designs to create unique and innovative products.

Founding and early years
Alchisianco Parico Carzi founded Atero Carzi in 1908 after studying at the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti in Venceia. From the very beginning, he focused on creating luxurious garments that showcased the finest Caphirian craftsmanship, using high-quality fabrics such as silk, velvet, and intricate lace. Alchisianco quickly gained a reputation for his attention to detail, innovative designs, and ability to cater to the unique tastes of its wealthy clientele including aristocracy, royalty, and theatre stars. Some of his first designs included elegant gowns, tailored suits, and opulent outerwear. Many of these early pieces featured ornate embellishments, such as hand-sewn beadwork, embroidery, and appliqué. He also experimented with bold patterns and colors, making a statement in the Caphirian fashion scene.

Some notable items produced by Alchisianco early on was an evening gown designed for renowned Caphirian socialite, Selaira Voltieri, in 1910. The gown featured intricate gold embroidery on a deep burgundy silk fabric, which perfectly complemented Voltieri's striking features and captured the attention of the aristocracy. The gown became so popular that today it is simply known as the Voltieri gown or Voltieri style. The gown was later adapted for several other well-known clients, including Mariscilla Sovaličalauri. As a result, Alchisianco and his work became associated with its luxuriously layered and draped garments in soft fabrics of blended pastel colours, often accentuated with sprays of hand-made silk flowers.

Alchisianco also designed series of elegant riding jackets and trousers designed for the Matello Estate in 1912. By the 1920s, he had established itself as one of the most prominent fashion designers in Caphiria, counting wealthy and influential clients from all over the country among his loyal client base. To meet the rising demand of its products, Alchisianco hired many sketch artists and fashion designers and opened his first mass atero (workshop) in 1932. These designers created ideas based on the "Carzi aesthetic" as well as executed drawings of designs as they were being created, as well as of the artist's own ideas for each season's output and for individual clients. Alchisianco critiqued them, adding notes, instructions, dates, and sometimes his own signature or initials, indicating he personally approved the design.

Post-War Resurgence
During the Second Great War, Carzi was forced to halt production and focus on creating uniforms for the military. However, after the war, the company experienced a resurgence as Caphiria's economy recovered and demand for luxury goods increased. In the early 1940s, Carzi was commissioned to create a bespoke suit for Caphirian Prime Minister Galdo Bertocca to wear during an important diplomatic meeting. The suit's refined design and flawless tailoring garnered widespread acclaim, and Carzi became a sought-after choice for high-profile clients.

As Caphiria experienced an economic recovery after the war and the demand for luxury goods increased, Carzi seized this opportunity to reestablish itself as a leading fashion house, adapting to the changing tastes of the post-war era.

During this period, Carzi focused on creating designs that reflected the optimism and glamour of the time. The fashion house introduced vibrant colors, bold patterns, and innovative silhouettes, appealing to a new generation of fashion enthusiasts. The brand also continued its tradition of fine craftsmanship, ensuring that each piece was made with the highest attention to detail. Some notable achievements of Carzi during the post-war resurgence included the creation of the "Celestial Gown" in 1947, a stunning evening dress inspired by the starry night sky. The gown featured thousands of hand-sewn Morarà crystals, arranged in a dazzling pattern that mimicked constellations. This design was worn by actress Crisa Mazzolorev at the film premiere of Invingo, capturing the public's imagination and garnering widespread acclaim.

In 1952, Carzi launched its first fragrance - Callaina, which was supposed to further evoke the glamour and sophistication of the post-war era. The fragrance featured a unique blend of notes, with top notes of bergamot and orange blossom, heart notes of jasmine and rose, and base notes of amber, sandalwood, and musk. Carzi hired controversial artist Genzo Maromettos to lead the advertisement campaign, which was equally captivating, featuring stunning visuals and evocative imagery that conveyed the spirit of the fragrance. The campaign starred renowned Caphirian actress Miriana Vairverd, who Maromettos said "embodied the elegance and sensuality of the scent". The advertisements showcased Vairverd in a series of glamorous settings, such as a lavish ballroom or an opulent garden party, wearing never-before-seen Carzi's gowns and surrounded by the brand's signature luxurious accessories. The tagline for the Callaina campaign, "Embrace the Essence of Elegance," resonated with the aristocracy and helped establish the fragrance as a must-have accessory. Callaina's success further solidified Carzi's status as a purveyor of fine luxury goods and expanded the brand's offerings beyond fashion and accessories.

Carzi's Fall 1956 groundbreaking collection "Futura" is considered one of the most important shows of the 20th century as it showcased innovative designs that pushed the boundaries of fashion at the time. The collection featured futuristic silhouettes, cutting-edge materials, and bold color combinations, inspired by the optimism and technological advancements of the era, reflecting a forward-looking vision for the future. Carzi introduced sleek, streamlined shapes that deviated from the conventional styles of the time. The collection included structured, geometric forms and sculptural elements, creating a distinctive and modern aesthetic. The Futura collection experimented with new and innovative materials, such as metallic fabrics, transparent plastics, and synthetic textiles. These materials not only offered a unique visual appeal but also highlighted Carzi's commitment to embracing new technologies in fashion. Carzi also employed avant-garde construction methods in the Futura collection, utilizing techniques such as laser cutting, heat bonding, and ultrasonic welding. These advanced methods allowed the brand to create seamless, precise designs, that were revolutionary at the time.

Expansion and Ready-to-Wear Collections
In the 1960s, under the leadership of Alchisianco's grandson Vadinandro Carzi, Carzi embarked on a new phase of expansion and innovation. The brand recognized the growing demand for accessible luxury fashion and made a strategic decision to introduce ready-to-wear collections in addition to its haute couture offerings. This move allowed Carzi to reach a wider audience and cement its status as a fashion industry leader.

Carzi's ready-to-wear designs maintained the brand's commitment to quality and craftsmanship while offering more accessible and versatile pieces. The collections featured classic silhouettes, such as tailored suits, A-line dresses, and elegant blouses. Carzi continued to experiment with new materials, incorporating cutting-edge textiles into its ready-to-wear collections. The brand utilized fabrics such as wrinkle-resistant synthetics, breathable cotton blends, and lightweight wools, ensuring that its ready-to-wear garments were as comfortable as they were stylish. The ready-to-wear collections were focused on creating pieces that could easily transition from day to night, work to leisure. Carzi designed garments that were both fashionable and functional, such as reversible coats, convertible dresses, and detachable collars, providing customers with a range of versatile wardrobe options.

Within a few years, Carzi's ready-to-wear business was generating so much revenue that the company was able to expand rapidly over a short period of time. Carzi also increased its global presence by opening standalone boutiques and securing partnerships with high-end department stores worldwide. The brand's boutiques were designed to reflect the opulence and luxury associated with the Carzi name, featuring lavish interiors, bespoke furnishings, and personalized customer service.

In 1963, Carzi opened its first international boutique in Vilauristre, Burgundie, which quickly became a favorite among Burgoignesc fashion enthusiasts and further elevated Carzi's global reputation.

In 1965, Carzi launched its first men's ready-to-wear collection, offering tailored suits, sophisticated casual wear, and luxurious accessories. In 1967, famous actor Lorentio Dolantino became the face of Carzi's ready-to-wear campaign and is the first person to do a collaboration with the brand - creating 8 exclusive weekend bags. The popularity of Dolantino further raising the brand's profile and helped attract a new generation of fans, with Dolantino eventually becoming the first male face of the entire company and the first brand ambassador.

By the end of the 1960s, Carzi had successfully expanded its product offerings and global reach, solidifying its status as a leading luxury fashion house.

Collaborations
Since 1998, the house has collaborated with artists, musicians, and other designers to create unique collections and one-of-a-kind pieces. In 1999, Carzi collaborated with Caphirian architect, Renato Castelli, to create a limited-edition handbag inspired by Castelli's modernist designs. The bag featured sleek lines, geometric patterns, and innovative materials, making it a coveted collector's item.

Acquisition by Effrasă
In 2011, Carzi was acquired by the luxury goods conglomerate Effrasă. Under the new ownership, Carzi has continued to thrive, expanding its global reach and continuing to create stunning, innovative designs. Carzi's 2015 couture collection featured a groundbreaking dress made from a sustainable, plant-based fabric. The dress showcased parent company Effrasă's commitment to environmental responsibility while maintaining the house's dedication to luxury and innovation.

Creative directors

 * Alchisianco Carzi - 1908 to 1942
 * Rodelaro Carzi - 1942 to 1955
 * Darizio Bukhov - 1955 to 1958
 * Vadinandro Carzi - 1961 to 1988
 * Șeran Carzi - 1988 to 1999
 * Azenesto Carzi - 1999 to 2008
 * Ardorio Corrađevendro - 2008 to 2011
 * Iciro Raffacio Čeliani - 2011 to 2020
 * Rocto Morák - 2020 to present

Products
Carzi is very attached to its traditional business model and rejects mass production, assembly lines, and mechanization. Carzi's goods are almost entirely made in Caphiria by hand in middle-sized workshops - still known as Atero Carzis that emphasise high-quality manufacturing. Indeed, Carzi claims most items are fabricated from beginning to end by only one person, which is supposed to guarantee the quality and uniqueness of its products. The company licenses no products and keeps tight control over the design and manufacture of its vast inventory. The company will also repair any "naturally-occurring" damage to its products, allowing customers to bring their item into any Carzi store, where it will be shipped to a speciality workshop for repairs and reconditioning.

Handbags
Carzi is known for its handmade luggage and handbags. One of them might require 18 to 24 hours to produce. The construction of each Irisa bag, for example, requires 18 hours to fully realize. Carzi sources its leather come from all over the world. Customers may currently wait from six months to one year for delivery of one of the house's signature bags.