A journey far from the glamour of California, but one that follows the call of far-off coastlines, dusty tracks, and wind-lashed oceans. The route passes through Los Angeles but pushes further towards places where sand clings to your skin and salt fades the fabric, through deserted beaches, makeshift kiosks, cracked roads, and roadside workshops. Crossing African bays swept by the wind, Australian coral reefs, and get inspired by the honest gestures of coastal communities. The aesthetics of freedom, instinctive and essential, dominate the SS26 collection by 1989 Studio, the brand founded in Los Angeles and acquired in 2022 by the Italian group Folli Follie, which has entrusted the creative direction to Pietro De Nardi, a former designer for Golden Goose, Stone Island, and Ermenegildo Zegna. This is a nomadic collection, built from pieces that feel as though they were picked up along the way and adapted on the spot. The trench reimagined as a slicker, the cropped, hooded, and zipped vest layered over T-shirts with “dirty” seaweed-inspired prints. In a mashup of tailoring and sportswear, layering plays a central role. Thus, De Nardi reinterprets the American soul of the brand with a personal vision that is imbued with international appeal, remaining faithful to the label's history, evolving it in a minimalist and refined key. Modem interviewed Pietro De Nardi on the occasion of Milan Men's Fashion Week, and he told us of the new course he has undertaken at the helm of 1989 Studio.
Modem: 1989 Studio began its new course under your creative direction. How are you facing this new challenge?
Pietro De Nardi: Taking on the creative direction of 1989 Studio was like entering into a dialogue that had already begun between different cultures, visions, and sensibilities. The challenge is precisely this: to honor the DNA of the brand, born on the West Coast, grown in Italy, and bring it into a new phase, more mature but equally free. I wanted to approach it with enthusiasm, respect, and energy, with the desire to give the brand a strong and recognizable identity. It's not just about creating collections, but about building a coherent narrative, in continuous evolution, that speaks of people, places, and lived stories, always remaining faithful to the free and authentic spirit that distinguishes us.
Modem: What are the features that characterize 1989 Studio creations?
Pietro De Nardi: 1989 Studio is a brand that rejects rigid labels, aiming for an international, sophisticated, but accessible aesthetic. Our creations mix refined spontaneity and a constant tension between Italian craftsmanship and Californian roughness. All garments are born from a sporty inspiration, and are positioned in a medium-high range for materials, research, and finishes. The goal is not to be vintage, but contemporary: to offer clothes designed for those seeking authenticity and quality, without giving in to the fashions of the moment. Each product is simple but rich in details, textures, and meanings.
Modem: Does it preserve the brand’s American heritage, and how do you interpret it according to your vision?
Pietro De Nardi: The American soul of the brand, especially its Californian origins, remains a fundamental reference, but our vision is global. We are not interested in a nostalgic or stereotyped interpretation: the California that inspires us is the real, rough, lived one. At the same time, we want the brand to speak an international language, capable of evoking different places like Los Angeles, Milan, Seoul, or Tokyo. I reread that heritage through a European lens, more conceptual and stratified, combining it with the culture of well-made and the attention to detail typical of Made in Italy. It is an encounter that generates something unique and current.
Modem: How do you define the brand's style, and who is its target audience?
Pietro De Nardi: The style of the 1989 Studio is nomadic, functional, and emotional. It is based on a sportswear aesthetic designed for a unisex and transversal audience, between 18 and 45 years old. Our customers are curious, independent people who live between city and nature, between real and digital, and they look for clothes that truly represent them. We are not interested in the ephemeral, but in building a wardrobe of "instant classics": clothes that can accompany you over time, always with coherence and freedom.
Modem: What is the core design of the SS26 collection?
Pietro De Nardi: The heart of the SS26 collection is freedom, understood as a concrete, lived, never glossy attitude. The total look is at the center of the proposal, with a focus on outerwear and denim, two key categories that perfectly express our language. The materials tell experiences: sun-bleached denim, vintage-effect sponges, and destructured technical fabrics. Layering is fundamental: each piece dialogues with the other, creating authentic combinations, designed for those who chase summer from one hemisphere to another. Even the accessories follow this logic: functional, essential, never decorative. It is a spontaneous aesthetic, built on simple gestures and a sense of belonging rather than appearance.
Photos: Some look from the 1989 Studio's SS2026 Collection
