Angelo Raffaele Masciello is a 24-year-old fashion designer who was born on the 2nd of September 1997 in Foggia-Italy. Over the past few years, the relationship with two very important women, who both shared a passion for embroidery and knitwear, marked his future choices, wishing to become a stylist. Thanks to that, he started drawing clothes when he was 16, and he has never stopped since then. He enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Foggia, earning a three-year degree in “Fashion and Costume,” understanding how much this path did not represent just a simple job to him. It gave him the chance to identify himself in a real lifestyle, acquiring a deeper knowledge of colours, tailoring techniques, and types of fabrics by manipulating them to create new shapes. He moved to Rome to start a new path and chase his dream, with new challenges, in the “Haute Couture Master” at the Accademia Costume & Moda, in 2019. Deadlines set for each project and the countless exams have helped him constantly plan and reach every goal with the utmost seriousness, humility, and desire to improve himself.
Sassy & Co Magazine recently caught up with Angelo to discuss his journey in the fashion industry, and here’s what went down:
How did you get into the fashion industry?
Everything started one summer, in 2016, when I started drawing dozens of illustrations per day. I remember that many of my friends went out while I stayed at home to draw traveling on my mind.
They were my first sketches. I immediately understood what my passion was.
So I decided to enroll at the Academy of Fine Arts in Foggia, my hometown, starting to discover the beauties about fashion arts, to discover the love for fabrics, and my own desire to always create something new. In those years, I got very close to tailoring maker; I loved sewing all garments for the graduation by myself, experimenting with new shapes on the mannequin, and choosing innovative and functional fabrics.
In 2019, after my bachelor’s degree, I moved to Rome to complete my studies. I enrolled in the Master Alta Moda at the Accademia Costume & Moda.
It was a very important career path; I grew up as a person and as a designer, learning to work in a team and complete all the goals. I’ve improved the development of creative research for the collections by making them extremely personal. It has been a strong path, which despite the Covid blockade, has contributed to my professional growth.
What do you like most about being a designer?
Being able to convey a message, being able to say what I think without words, but using art, colors, shapes, fabrics that convey lightness or melancholy as well.
I think it’s very important to feel free because one’s freedom makes others free too.
Nowadays, the designer has a fundamental role within society, young people identify with a brand or in a fashion icon, and this is what I love: having a continuous exchange of needs with the people you meet.
I want to feel part of this society because I know they can give a lot to me and, at the same time, I can leave a message for them too.
Downside to being a fashion designer?
You need to have a strong personality and have clear ideas about what you want to convey; otherwise, there’s the risk of no longer being fundamental for society. It’s important always to have new ideas, be open-minded as much as possible to new needs, and always question oneself. Otherwise, it could become difficult.
What has been the most memorable experience of being in the fashion industry so far?
The catwalk, of course. A designer works to his creations day and night, but what always pushes me to give my best is to see my clothes worn when they come to life.
On the catwalk, everything comes alive, from the fabrics to the colors that light up; at that moment, I relive the whole journey in a few seconds. The adrenaline of the last moment combined with the feelings of models and the tears of thanks knowing that I’ve left something of mine to those who have looked at my collection. I remember perfectly after the MittelModa Fashion contest, in September, and the last Fashion Graduate Italia the smiles and hugs with the whole team, the congratulations from Rosemary Ferrari backstage. They are unforgettable moments.
Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?
I take this opportunity to thank all the people who work in the Academy because they have helped me in this fundamental path of my life. All professionals who have dedicated their time to pass on their experiences and their passion to all of us.
It was very important to exchange and grow with people who love this job because they have enriched me a lot, have been a push to believe in what I was doing, and always pushed me further. A fundamental person was Santo Costanto, to whom I say thank you. He was always present for everyone; working with him during the master and having him as a teacher was also important on a human level.
In this job, you have to surround yourself with positive and proactive people; only in this way could I overcome my limits.
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while in the fashion industry. This can be about the industry or about yourself.
The humility of always wanting to learn, constantly questioning myself, and never being satisfied. These characteristics have always helped me move forward while respecting the work of others as much as possible.
The awareness of learning has led me always to have new goals every day.
I always try to be positive by finding an issue solution because the company has deadlines, and there’s no time to put yourself first.
In my opinion, the most wrong thing a designer can commit is to think that he has already reached the finish line.
Resuming your third question: in my opinion, that’s a big downside.
Is your family supportive of you being a fashion designer?
Absolutely yes!
They were the first to believe in me; they listened to and welcomed my passion and dreams.
If I got here today, it’s above all thanks to them.
It was a journey that we shared together and that they will surely continue to share with me. I think they also received all my feelings and perceived the need to express myself with my work.
Today the fashion world belongs to them too.
I will always be grateful to them.
If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?
Honestly not, I wouldn’t change anything about my path.
I made choices that made me grow as a person, designer, and with relationships with others.
You never know if that choice is right or wrong, but I’ve been able to improve some things from mistakes, and I have moved on.
I live the choices as a positive opportunity; I always try to avoid the negative sides because maybe what doesn’t arrive today will arrive tomorrow. You have to persevere and believe in what you do, be determined.
Every choice I made was determined by a historical moment, and I’m so glad about all the choices I have made to date.
Now I’m thinking about the next one.
(Photo by Daniele Venturelli )
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
The secret lies in constant work… Work a lot!
You have to work hard, make many sacrifices, be willing not to sleep for whole nights to understand where to improve yourself.
In recent years I have made many sacrifices; there have been very demanding weeks, then the work always pays off.
My advice for those growing this passion is to be determined and believe in themselves. The right attitude is to be curious, never get tired of knowing, never be superficial, and be dynamic.
To love this job is the most important thing, dedicating as long as possible to achieve excellent results.
To those starting, I say to always believe in it and never forget why you have chosen this job. It will be your strength.
What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.
My first goal is to start working for a fashion brand, to be able to give my knowledge to make something beautiful together.
Being complicit in a creation, sharing feelings with the brand, and making my little experiences available while growing with the company and the team.
In a few years, I hope to have the opportunity to open my own fashion line, womenswear, and men RTW, to be able to get involved again.
A secret dream is to enter a haute cuisine school: I’m cultivating this interest because it’s a source full of inspiration, relaxation, and well-being for myself.
(Photo by Daniele Venturelli )
(Photo by Daniele Venturelli )
(Photo by Daniele Venturelli )
(Photo by Daniele Venturelli )