Poetic License
Poet-Lab is the creation of designer and Creative Director Giuseppe Iaciofano, who founded his London-based brand during the pandemic. While its birthplace was the capital, its genesis was the Italian designer's exposure to the high-impact glamour of Milan's fashion houses and the pragmatic structures which underpin the New York fashion industry.
Making the geographical move to London and then establishing a new label during Covid would be a daunting prospect for most. However, as a Cancer survivor Giuseppe has overcome much greater adversity and, with it, developed an even greater passion for fashion and an appreciation of life itself.
Making the most exquisite womenswear, the Poet-Lab aesthetic marries high-octane flamboyance with unapologetic escapism to create sumptuously structural pieces created with meticulous attention to detail.
I spoke to Giuseppe about what lies at the heart of the Poet-Lab DNA, the professional and personal obstacles he has overcome to create such a well-known and respected London label, and his goals and aspirations for the future.
I understand that you founded the brand in 2018. What inspired you to start your own fashion label, and why at that particular time in your life?
I found my identity and founded my brand in 2018, but unfortunately, due to Covid, I had to close down and open under a new fresh name Poet-lab. This really made me think that everything is possible if you believe in yourself and make sure that you consider everything. I always wanted to express myself, and I felt that it was necessary to show who I was and my ideas.
Why did you name it Poet-Lab, and what message do you want that highly evocative title to send to people?
Poet-lab is the core and heart of a poet, a person dreaming and being who they want to be. Clothes are just items to be worn, and what really matters is how you show who you are and that you are without prejudice.
“Inclusivity-ethical, for me, is one word. Everyone can wear poet-lab with no judgement of who can wear what.”
For those new to Poet-Lab, how would you describe the brand's aesthetic and ethos?
A geometric minimalistic oversize garment that highlights the silhouette looks that make everyone genderless, and then reworking those elements into luxury streetwear.
How do you want the person who wears Poet-Lab to feel about themselves and the world around them when they wear one of your creations?
Be free, and don't be afraid; you will show who you truly are; we are all a piece of ART. We are all unique.
How did your cancer diagnosis and recovery shape your desire to do what you love, and has it also become a source of motivation for you?
I never gave up on my dream, and while I was in treatment, I was doing a fashion show in Italy. I made myself busy, and actually, I fell more in love with what I was doing because at least I was trying to do it instead of giving in to CANCER.
You are involved in all areas of Poet-Lab, from Creative Director to pattern maker to press release writer. Which brings you the most satisfaction and why, and which would you most happily delegate?
At the moment, I am the master of my baby. When it comes to delegation, I have a team who makes my pattern and sew my garments. I am super satisfied when I have created the idea and the concept behind it and how everything comes together.
You spent time in Milan and New York before settling in London. What influences have you taken from each of these three very different fashion capitals, and what is it about London's culture that made you base your label here?
From Milano, I learned the taste of quality, and from New York, the concept behind where the structure comes from. I love London because you can really create everything, and there is no scheme to follow, only the craziness.
You recently collaborated with the organization Float which helps artists and brands connect with their fans. How did that come out, and do you have any other collaborations in the pipeline?
A friend asked me if I was happy to lend the clothes for the exhibition and to show them with a beautiful mood board on the day. I didn't have a clue about the music involved, so my involvement was driven by my knowledge of fashion history.
Inclusivity and ethical intentionality are at the core of everything you do. How does that manifest in how you work and the causes you support?
Inclusivity-ethical, for me, is one word. Everyone can wear poet-lab with no judgement of who can wear what. I support the trans community, who still don't have the right in the UK to show who they really are. At the moment, I dress Vladimir Luxuria, who I believe is the most powerful transgender figure globally.
What goals and aspirations do you have for Poet-Lab as we approach the second half of 2023?
We plan to launch in September with an exclusive private event where people can see the history of poet-lab and at the same time can buy the products, which will be limited edition. Some of the money will be donated to a Trans community to help them take the first step toward their dream.
Inclusivity and ethical intentionality are at the core of everything you do. How does that manifest in how you work and the causes you support?
Inclusivity-ethical, for me, is one word. Everyone can wear poet-lab with no judgement of who can wear what. I support the trans community, who still don't have the right in the UK to show who they really are. At the moment, I dress Vladimir Luxuria, who I believe is the most powerful transgender figure globally.
What goals and aspirations do you have for Poet-Lab as we approach the second half of 2023?
We plan to launch in September with an exclusive private event where people can see the history of poet-lab and at the same time can buy the products, which will be limited edition. Some of the money will be donated to a Trans community to help them take the first step toward their dream.
For Giuseppe, the name Poet-Lab signifies his vision of creating in a poet's workshop. It's a vision which manifests an intellectual environment where artistic concept, poetic sensibility, and design aesthetic meld to create the most stunning pieces made with love and authenticity, pieces for the dreamer in all of us who wish to achieve our aspirations regardless of the obstacles that life puts in our way.
Giuseppe Iaciofano is a designer who has navigated one of life's most traumatic obstacles and emerged on the other side with his love of fashion and zest for life truly amplified by that experience. Writers often use the lazy journalistic cliche "journey" to describe an individual's path to achieving their dreams. In Giuseppe's case, however, that word seems profoundly apt and appropriate. I'd recommend that you join him on this next stage of a journey which seems guaranteed to take Poet-lab on a continued upward trajectory.
You can connect with the brand here https://poet-lab.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/poetlab/
