Photo: Alasdair McLellan / Courtesy of Our Legacy Work Shop and Emporio Armani

The Swedish brand Our Legacy’s connection to Italy runs deeper than just choosing to showcase there—creative director Cristopher Nying has Italian roots. Recently, Nying, co-founder Jockum Hallin, and the Our Legacy team spent time in Pantelleria, where they shot the second Emporio Armani Our Legacy Work Shop collection, now expanded to include womenswear.

This unexpected fusion of Nordic and Italian styles began in late 2023 with the first collection. The new spring lineup goes further in fabric development. “The first time, we explored the Emporio Armani archive and matched it with fabrics from our own deadstock,” Hallin explains over the phone. This time, Our Legacy Work Shop recreated Emporio Armani fabrics or used limited materials sourced directly from the Italian brand—aligning with their philosophy of “working with what’s in front of you,” as Hallin puts it. Standout materials include a textured linen and a pink floral warp-print taffeta.

“Womenswear feels quite different for Giorgio Armani compared to menswear, but for us, it’s more similar,” Nying notes.

Photo: Alasdair McLellan / Courtesy of Our Legacy Work Shop and Emporio Armani

The goal remained the same: blending Our Legacy’s aesthetic with Armani’s world. “I deeply respect Giorgio—he often speaks about elegance,” says Nying. “We wanted to connect not just with Emporio Armani but with Giorgio Armani’s broader legacy.” Launched in 1981, Emporio Armani resonated with youth culture—much like Our Legacy does today.

Eastern influences appear in pieces like a kimono coat and collarless jackets, nodding to Giorgio Armani’s work, while T-shirts with cat prints reference the designer’s love for felines. A shadowy plaid, pinstripes reimagined as tracksuits, and color-blocked moto jackets (in black and brown) bring in Our Legacy’s touch, along with washed jeans featuring godets on the inner seams. The palette is neutral, the silhouettes long and fluid—capturing a relaxed island vibe. Nying’s focus on Armani’s “softer language” led to what he calls “collapsed tailoring.” As Hallin puts it, this collaboration is about “dressing elegantly in a really comfortable way.”

Photo: Alasdair McLellan / Courtesy of Our Legacy Work Shop and Emporio Armani

Swipe left to see the full Our Legacy Work Shop x Emporio Armani collection.
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