Maria Giulia Maramotti: "In A Family Business, You Are Always At Work"

2023 Author: Amber Richards | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 00:24

Max Mar is a classic example of an Italian family business. You have been working for the family for seven years now. What are the pros and cons of such a career?

- Family business - you are always “at work”, 24 hours a day. For example, if I call my mother, then we always talk about Max Mara. And there is always a lot of work, responsibility - too. Not that this is a minus, but all this requires a lot of energy. And the pluses are, of course, the legacy of the grandfather who founded our brand, the opportunity to be a part of it. It costs a lot.

What business rules did your grandfather teach you?

- Love your job. Be as loyal and honest as possible. Do not deviate from principles, do not chase commercial success. To be responsible with your head for the product, for the quality. Pay attention to detail. Nowadays the concept of "micromanagement" is fashionable. This is not very close to me: it seems to me that in order to be successful in business, you first need to see the big picture. In general, I am a perfectionist, I have very high requirements - to myself and others. I do not like to give in. If you can't do very well, it's best not to start at all.

Who was responsible for the design of your apartment?

- My very good friend, her name is Mina Frendmberger. She lives between Los Angeles and New York and has her own business, House Interior. And amazing taste! For me, home design is a process that never ends. For example, yesterday I called Nina and said that I needed new dishes. And once again she gave me recommendations.

What interior items are especially dear to you?

- I am madly in love with the painting of Natasha Lowe with a black and white woman that hangs in my living room (the artist NatashLaw is the sister of actor Jude Law, with whom Maria Julia has long been friends). I also adore the two beautiful chairs that Mina and I dug up at the flea market. This is a 1950s Italian vintage and I ordered a wonderful wool upholstery for them. I am also very dear to the tablecloths that I bought in Marrakech - they are so beautiful! And also linen sheets - I bought them from my good friend. Her brand is called Oliveri Home - these things look amazing! Sleeping on them is also a pleasure.

Who taught once to understand contemporary art?

- My parents collected contemporary art, they dragged me all the time to exhibitions and museums. So from childhood I began to understand something about this. But a conscious interest in art arose after I moved to New York. I began to get acquainted with artists, and this allows me to understand everything on a completely different level.

After Dasha Zhukova, many girls became interested in contemporary art and some dream of working in this field. What is the best place to start?

- The best way is to go to exhibitions, galleries and personally meet the artists. When you see not only works, but also their authors, who can tell you something and show their world, it opens up completely new horizons. In general, now there are so many amazing museums and so many opportunities - if you are really interested.

Do you have anything to do with the collection of your family (in Reggio Emilia, where MaxMara is headquartered, the Maramotti family owns a huge collection of contemporary art - approx. Marie Claire)?

- Honestly, no. This is mostly done by my uncle (Luigi Maramotti - President of MaxMarFashion Group) and my mother. I now live too far away to participate meaningfully.

Your style rules?

- I dress very simply, concisely. I like nice coats, I like nice designer pants. I wear them with shirts and heels - if I go to the office, or ballet shoes - if I'm on the road. It seems to me that any active modern woman needs to have things that are easily combined with each other and that can be safely worn both to work and in the evening. For me, for example, a black cashmere sweater with a V-neck, a black cashmere turtleneck, a black jumper, a white blouse - made of silk or cotton, a pair of nice jeans, a pair of some amazing black pumps and sandals with heels and nice black trousers are indispensable. This is actually my basic wardrobe. You can already play with all this. All these things - in different combinations with each other - make it possible to look professional and at the same time gorgeous and sexy. You will also be comfortable.

Do you have any favorite things?

- I'm obsessed with denim! I have a pair of high waisted vintage Levi's - they look absolutely stunning! Shoes are also my weakness, as, indeed, most girls. I have a lot of Max Mara shoes, I also love Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo. For me, shoes are a very sexy part of my wardrobe. Max Mar has a fantastic coat, my favorite is a black cashmere double-breasted coat. I'm also not indifferent to white shirts for men, I prefer Dior Homme. Then black trousers - Max Mar has an amazing cut - they fit perfectly and make the figure slimmer. I am Italian and we love feminine style. So when I'm in the mood, I put on a little black dress, it's very sexy. Black is my favorite color, it is necessary in the wardrobe. I love red too - especially red dresses, it's also a very sexy story, especially. And finally, one more thingwhich is dear to me is a white tuxedo. This is my solution for important evening events.

Where and how do you shop?

- To be honest, I don't often go shopping. In fact, shopping is my job. And when I need something, I buy it online (for example, through net-a-porter) or go to Barney's. About 95% of my wardrobe is Max Mara, there are vintage items from YSL, Chanel, Dior, I love dresses from Dolce & Gabbana. I love to buy jewelry, especially ethnic. My favorite brands are Eddie Borgo, IleanMakri, DelfinDelettrez, Vhernхier.

The Max Mar brand is considered rather conservative. Do you agree with that?

“I have no idea where this opinion came from. Personally, I do not share it at all. Max Mar garments combine classic and chic. But this is a very advanced brand. When the best architects in the world work on the design of a bag, isn't this an avant-garde project?

How did you, an Italian, integrate into American culture?

- What I like about Americans is their commitment, professionalism and respect for other people's time. But here I miss the story - I miss the quiet suburbs of old European cities. In general, New York is not a city for everyone, only very strong and balanced ones survive here. Here you have to constantly prove something. It is both exhausting and stimulating at the same time. In America, all are individualists, family ties are not very developed here. I miss this too. Family values are very important, they give the ground underfoot. I am lucky with my family - we are very close. I and my friends are the same - I immediately invite everyone to visit, for dinner. This is not accepted in America. There are also strange dating rules - before you become a couple, you have to meet a certain number of times. In Europe, in this regard, everything happens somehow more naturally.

You have a boydriend?

- Currently no.

In New York, this is probably not easy?

- The fact that this is a city of singles is a cliché. I have a lot of friends here who have a family and children. In general, love is a simple thing: if you are destined to be together, you will. Everything is good in my life - I love myself, my body, my work. And I believe that my man will find me himself.

How do you receive guests?

- I love to cook! I turn on jazz, pour myself a glass of wine and start chopping vegetables - it's fantastic relaxing. I am a sports girl and I try to eat healthy food - my refrigerator is always full of vegetables. Therefore, I usually bake some kind of sea bass with potatoes, tomatoes and zucchini with spices. Sometimes I make risotto, and for a snack - something Mexican, from an avocado. And of course the wine. For example, I don't think that red should not be served with fish. As far as possible! My favorite is Amarone, a red Venetian wine. And from white - Chardonnay from the Napa Valley in California - in America, it's a sin not to drink American wines!

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