Today we’d like to introduce you to Greta Valigi.
Hi Greta, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Born and raised in Italy, my family’s love for travel and creativity shaped my upbringing. Sicilian from my mother’s side, I was influenced by my stylish grandmother, who designed fine jewelry. My mom, a former ballet dancer turned teacher, exposed me to the world of ballet and its beautiful costumes.
Growing up in Padova, a city in the northeast of the country with a very different culture than Sicily, I felt connected to multiple places which I believe fostered curiosity and an open mind. Early trips to the US sparked my interest in the English language and its cultural diversity. In Italy, surrounded by art and architecture, my passion for fashion bloomed also influenced by the ultra-stylish and fashion-savvy women of my family. I clearly remember the day I told my mom “I am going to be a fashion designer”.
I must have been 7. I never changed my mind and today, I have fulfilled my calling. At 20, I left Italy for the Parsons School of Design in NYC, my dream school. Living in Brooklyn with my uncle, aunt, and two cousins who I am very close to, made me feel at home despite being far from my parents and family. But it was at Parsons that I found my new best friends, a group of like-minded talents from many different countries, with big dreams just like mine. In my successful senior year, I created a thesis collection of womenswear, blending 50s Italian menswear with a deconstructed and feminine touch.
Vintage photographs of my grandparents in Sicily and on their journeys around parts of Africa, took a new form as I manually printed them onto the garments using the cyanotype technique. My work granted me a nomination for Designer of the Year, a showcase at Saks Fifth Avenue, and the CFDA+ certification under Diane Von Furstenberg’s leadership. For the following six years, I worked my way up in corporate jobs. My first design internship was at Donna Karan Collection, then assistant level at Ralph Lauren Collection and Polo, and then a 5 year stint at Lane Bryant becoming a part of a freshly recruited design team tasked with rebranding the historical plus-size brand, where I worked my way up to a managerial level.
These years were very formative for me, I had the opportunity to work on both accessories and apparel. I gained expertise in the world of luxury and the one of mass-market. Then 2020 happened. With the global shifts brought forward by the pandemic, I transitioned from being an employee to working remotely as a freelancer and consultant offering design services. The opportunity came to relocate to Miami, and my then-fiance and I immediately took that as our chance to leave the hustle and bustle of NYC and move to a more enjoyable lifestyle.
And here I am today! Already going on 3 years in the Magic City. Still consulting, freelancing, and also teaching at the Istituto Marangoni. My biggest project so far this year has been the launch of my very first eveningwear and special occasion collection that I have been privileged to present to private clients in a luxury showroom setting in the prestigious Design District.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I chose a challenging path for myself. One that saw me leaving the comforts and certainties of life in Italy for the chase of a dream in New York City, to become successful in one of the most cut-throat and competitive industries out there. At first, I was guided by my complete devotion and passion for my calling, to become a designer.
Nothing could stop me, and I smoothly sailed through my bachelor program at Parsons, enjoying the process and the results of my work. The struggles started once I entered the industry as an immigrant always needing visa sponsorships, which made finding employment a mission in an already incredibly competitive field. I would go interview for countless companies and every time I would get the same response: you are so talented, but we can’t sponsor you. I always had the added pressure of having to prove my level of excellence in my field to obtain my Artist Visa renewals to be able to continue working.
And on top of that, I wouldn’t see my parents for very long periods whenever my status was under review and I couldn’t leave the country, and that always made things harder. Other big lessons were on the professional and interpersonal level, learning on my skin how to “be” in a corporate setting, where I had to tone down my natural enthusiasm and passion to fall in line and be a good employee.
Some leaders fostered a supportive environment for creative professionals to thrive and express themselves, while others imposed a toxic and oppressive work culture where it was really hard to stay motivated and find that sense of accomplishment you should feel when working your dream job.
I doubted myself many times during the years. I would ask myself questions such as: “Why did I choose such a difficult path” “Is the payback all that worth it..” “Should I move back home, I am homesick” “Do I even like my job??” but looking back I am glad I pushed through every time because where I am at right now is giving me a lot of clarity and I am starting to finally feel ready to release myself from self-doubt and believe I can truly achieve anything I set my mind to, simply because that’s all I have been doing since moving to the US.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Multifaceted Fashion designer. I call myself that way because boxing myself into the designer role alone wouldn’t describe all the things I do and am passionate about. I am a formally trained apparel and accessories designer. But I am also a stylist, a consultant, a business owner, and a professor. So, I’d say I specialize in FASHION.
What I am known for is my distinctively European eye and taste level, which I infuse in all of my creations and the work I offer to clients. When I first arrived in New York, I didn’t want to be “Italian”, I wanted to be a part of that mesmerizing cultural melting pot that is the Big Apple and just become one with its synergy. But now I am embracing and appreciating my Italian-ness a lot more and I can see how it’s reflected in the way I carry myself as I build my brand. What I am most proud of, is my growth and the level I have reached (so far) in my career sheerly on hard work, determination, and courage.
I am proud of the professional and personal relationships I have fostered and nurtured in these past 13 years of life in the USA. I am also proud of my values. Creatively, the projects that I am most proud of are my Parsons thesis collection and my newest personal brand that I am showing upon request here in Miami. These are one-of-a-kind evening-wear dresses inspired by the world of ballet that are handmade in Italy with precious fabrications and embellishments that I source there. What sets me apart professionally, is a unique blend of knowledge of many different categories of products at different price points relevant to the American market, elaborated aesthetically through a European lens.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.gretavaligi.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greta__valigi/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greta-valigi-a2336532/
Image Credits
Greta Valigi, Olga Miljko, and Charles Caesar
