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Pietro Lucerni©Michelangelo Foundation
Pietro Lucerni©Michelangelo Foundation
Pietro Lucerni©Michelangelo Foundation
Pietro Lucerni©Michelangelo Foundation
©Elena Datrino

Francesco Ballestrazzi

Francesco Ballestrazzi Milliner
Contact
Italian, English
Hours:
By appointment only
©All rights reserved

A silver lining

  • • Francesco feels privileged to follow his passion
  • • He teaches at the Polytechnic University of Milan
  • • Initially he worked exclusively with paper

Sometimes, in life, a negative experience can have a silver lining. Francesco Ballestrazzi discovered a deep artistic talent thanks to a fall! He was a professional ballet dancer but an injury forced him to change his path completely. Leading him to design shop windows for Moschino, here he learned about all kinds of different materials and how to combine them together in the best way. In 2014 he launched his personal brand, and just a few years later he started selling his spectacular hats in around 30 shops worldwide. Since 2018, he works with a smaller select group of shops to allow more space for his creativity. He teaches his art at important fashion academies and universities in Milan, such as Polytechnic University, Istituto Marangoni and Naba, and New Academy of Fine Arts.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©Elena Datrino
  • ©Elena Datrino
  • ©Elena Datrino
  • ©Elena Datrino
  • ©Elena Datrino
Photo: ©Elena Datrino
Ara Wings

Wings is a headpiece, handcrafted from multi-layered silk satin, inspired by the traditional headpieces of certain native South American peoples. The headpiece is part of Francesco Ballestrazzi’s Amazone Collection.

Photo: ©Elena Datrino
Wild Orchids

This intricate and elegant headpiece is handcrafted from individually shaped silk satin orchids, connected with thin wire.

Photo: ©Elena Datrino
Strelitziae

This elegant headpiece is handcrafted from silk satin. Francesco Ballestrazzi used this material and its vibrant colours to build an intricate composition of flowers and leaves.

Photo: ©Elena Datrino
Black Iris

This headpiece is composed of black iris petals, handcrafted from cotton velvet and ruffles created from silk organza.

Photo: ©Elena Datrino
Music

This multicoloured velvet headband is adorned with silk organza ruffles.

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