‘Leonesse’, which means Lionesses in Italian, is the name of the womenswear capsule collection by Samanta Virignio.

Leonesse combines women from the designers dual heritage. Mixing references from 1920’s Italian glamour with the American Dream world of the 1990’s and inspired by two women that represent hyperbolic archetypes of the independent woman. From the American side, Samantha Jones, the fictional TV character from Sex and the City, a classic all American businesswoman who never lets anything get in the way of what she wants, and from the Italian side, Marchesa Casati, a legendary marquise and patron of the arts renowned for her glamorous fashions and eccentricities. Both muses were initially misunderstood, but eventually lionized by future generations. They represent a certain freedom from societal norms set for the women of their time. Leonesse is designed for the ever bold, shamelessly brash, free-spirited woman of the future.

Six looks were designed and produced in collaboration with carefully researched specialist makers in Italy and the UK, only natural fibers such as wool and silk
were used, as well as incorporating dead-stock and certified sustainable materials. Accessories were made in collaboration with Murano glass-blowers and So-le Studio whilst the footwear is customized dead-stock from an Italian shoe manufacturer.