“It’s such an opportunity, getting to be at the centre of the Renaissance and really seeking to bring something new by just being authentic,” Russell Linnetz said from his Venice Beach headquarters. The vision, he went on, is “surfer boys flocking the streets of Florence.” But he’s planning more than the skate, surf and snow inflected clothes he’s known for.
The invitation reads “California Couture Made in Italy,” and in addition to a bigger emphasis on tailoring , there will be honest-to-goodness California couture in the form of pieces being worked on by local LA artisans. “Everything will be completely over the top,” he promised. Also: Watch out for ERL eyewear and footwear, which will be making their debuts at Pitti. Both lines will be sold alongside ERL clothes on the brand’s new e-commerce site, which is getting a refresh timed to the show.