Malkovich menswear line in Italy US actor takes 'Technobohemian' range to Tuscany

(ANSA) - Florence, January 11 - American actor and director John Malkovich on Monday launched the second installment of his latest adventure into the world of fashion and design, 'Technobohemian'.



Speaking at a conference in Florence, he provided an overview of his Autumn/Winter 2010-2011 collection. ''Technobohemian is a clothing line dedicated to the modern man,'' said the actor, best known for his parts in Dangerous Liaisons (1088) and Being John Malkovich (1999).



''For the next winter collection, I have used dark tones, in line with autumnal colours. ''There is not just one single material in the designs but I will use yarn that is organic and environmentally friendly''. Malkovich promised a more in-depth foretaste of the collection would go on display in Prato, with a range of photographs and preparatory drawings. The weeklong exhibition, which opens in the Pecci Museum on Tuesday, are part of plans to make the Tuscan town the base for his range, the 56-year-old actor said. ''Tuscany is a center of fashion,'' he explained. ''You can find everything here: the fabrics, the expertise and the ability to bring together all the elements that make up an outfit''.



A showroom devoted to Technobohemian range - Roqk Bazar - will open in Prato later this month. Set amid medieval buildings in the historic centre of the town, Piazza San Marco, Roqk Bazar will span a 600 square meter space and will also host cultural events. The online showroom, Roqk Net, will go live the same day, while a second Roqk centre will open in Shanghai, China, this March. Technobohemian, which aims to combine the sharp, sleek edge of urban wear with a more comfortable, relaxed feel, is the second clothing line for Malkovich, who released another menswear line, Uncle Kimono, in 2002. Malkovich released his first, all-white Technobohemian collection last June. Like the latest venture, the Spring-Summer 2010 range combined smart tailoring with a relaxed, casual, elegance, which the actor says is critical to his vision. Asked about the inspiration for his ideas, the actor cited his films. ''These have allowed me to learn about different kinds of peoples and different realities,'' he said, adding that his travels had also played a role. 'Constantly Being Born Clothes and Pencil Dreams', the exhibition in Prato, can be visited until January 17.