SUMMER PRIZE: A string of Italian fashion entrepreneurs and managers are poised to be bestowed with the Tao Awards on July 20 in Taormina, the luxury beach resort located on Italy’s Sicilian island.
Marco Bizzarri, the former president and chief executive officer of Gucci and currently chairman of personal holding Nessifashion, as well as fashion designer and entrepreneur Elisabetta Franchi, are among the individuals to be honored with the prize during a gala night to be held at the town’s Ancient Theatre.
Incidentally, Bizzarri’s Nessifashion has invested in Franchi’s fashion company earlier this year, as reported.
Alessandro Maria Ferreri, founder and CEO of The Style Gate luxury consultancy, menswear label Tombolini, as well as Italian singer Leo Gassmann, are also being recognized in their respective fields with a Tao Award.
The awards are part of the Taomoda Week event established in 2000 by Agata Patrizia Saccone, with the goal to promote and honor Made in Italy across 15 fields including fashion, design, science and performing arts.
The weeklong Taomoda event kicks off on Tuesday in the Sicilian town, marking its 25th edition with conferences, master classes, round tables, cultural events and July 18 dedicated to sustainability.
Past recipients of the Tao Awards in the fashion category included Brunello Cucinelli, Claudio Marenzi per Herno president and CEO, Ermanno Scervino, Antonio Marras, Genny, Cividini, Les Copains and Capucci, among others.