AN ITALIAN ESCAPE

ON LOCATION WITH WITH ELEVENTY CO-FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR MARCO BALDASSARI

“ In any collection, my inspiration always begins with the color palette. It’s such an important part of our value of ‘smart luxury’ and creating collections of pieces that work effortlessly together.” Marco Baldassari begins, as he shares the origins of Eleventy’s SS23 Collection, inspired by one of Baldassari’s favorite escapes — the island of Procida. The Italian escape was recently named Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2022, and remains a favorite among locals for its quiet beaches and colorful hillsides dotted with pastel homes.

“I am so inspired by the landscape, the sand, and the sea, all of which made its way into the palette for this collection. I wanted to pay homage to the nature of the island, which is why we leaned into every element in both the collection and campaign photos. Procida is loved by locals, and we wanted to showcase places in Italy that are beyond the common hotspots of Capri and Postino. We kept the shoot simple, honoring the natural elements of the island, just as we did in the color palette and materials for this collection.”

We meet with Marco Baldassari on a spring afternoon as he steps away from the bustle of Eleventy’s Milano headquarters. Their team is preparing for the opening of their new flagship store in Milan, which is a homecoming all its own. As the Creative Director and Founder of Eleventy, Marco Baldassari brings his own unique vision

BY EMMA GEARY

and style to the brand, which was founded in 2007. With a background in finance, his business acumen, combined with his deep knowledge of Italian tailoring, has been instrumental in the success of this quicklygrowing luxury brand.

As you’d expect for an Italian, Marco is warm, welcoming, and passionate about his work. He shares about the SS23 campaign as if he’s telling a story to an old friend, which embodies the same warmth and approachability he aims for in the brand. Under his guidance, Eleventy has become known for its emphasis on “smart luxury,” refined aesthetic, and ability to blend classic elegance with contemporary sensibilities.

Baldassari’s commitment to excellence and attention to detail can be seen in every aspect of the brand, from its designs to its production processes, making Eleventy a true embodiment of Italian craftsmanship and style. There is no better example of Baldassari’s creative commitment to the brand than his vision coming to life in the SS23 campaign, shot on location in the breathtaking Procida, Italy.

Every detail of the campaign was executed by Baldassari, who was incredibly hands-on in ensuring that every piece was represented as he imagined.

“There were local fishermen on the beaches as we shot, and we traveled to our locations at 4am to ensure we could shoot in the perfect morning light of the sunrise. I chose a vintage car for some of the shots to allude to what would have been driven on the island, giving the campaign a classic, chic feel. It is all part of telling the story not onl y of this collection, but of Eleventy as a whole.”

When asked what’s next for the brand, Baldassari smiles. He plans to continue doing what they’re doing - creating comfortable, versatile pieces for men that are truly designed for living. They continue to open boutiques across the world, including their newest flagship space in Milan. He also added, “We wouldn’t be where we are without partners like MartinPatrick 3. They have believed in our brand from the start, and visiting MartinPatrick 3 was one of the first trips I took to the US for the brand. I have always loved the concept of the store, and rely on their team to share important insights with us about what our customers are looking for and who they are, and for that we are eternally grateful.”