by Meg Miller

Italy's fashion houses are legendary, from Dolce Vita to Prada, Versace to Valentino. The country has always been known for its meticulous craftsmanship and luxury materials, but it was only after Word War II that Italy emerged as a fashion destination.

"Before the war, Italian fashion was always following the direction of French fashion, just like everyone else was. It wasn't until after the war that Italy's fashion industry got the confidence and the economic support to come into its own," says Stefano Tonchi, one of the curators of the exhibition Bellissima: Italy and High Fashion 1945 – 1968. 

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Source: http://www.fastcodesign.com/