In the fascinating ambiance, among lights, reflectors, and a large stage with steps, the mannequins are the real protagonists of the Bonaveri’s showroom in Milan, a world-famous manufacturer of mannequins and busts that are produced in stylized, realistic, and artistic shapes. Bonaveri showroom was realized by the architect Giuseppe Tortato, with the collaboration of Emma Davdige, it’s a big expositive space of 600 square meters with a permanent exhibition of mannequins, a library with the projection of images that tell the working process of mannequins, and an area for relaxation. The showroom also hosts exhibitions and events dedicated to fashion, design, and art.
The collections of Bonaveri mannequins and busts are requested by famous stylists, department stores, and ateliers of haute couture, in fashion exhibitions and museums around the world. Bonaveri mannequins have been exposed in fantastic “window displays” of Lanvin in Paris, Blumarine in Milan, Harrods in London, Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Macy’s store in New York, and in the window displays of Rinascente and Zara. They participated in great fashion exhibitions, such as in 2010 the retrospective “Yves Saint Laurent” at Petit Palais in Paris, in 2011 “Fashion in Italy—150 years of elegance” at Venaria Reale in Turin, in 2014 the fashion retrospective of Hubert De Givenchy at the Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid. In 2017, in the exhibition “The Sicilian cart: history in movement” organized by the Italian American Museum in Los Angeles, Schläppi 2200/ 3000 mannequins wore Dolce & Gabbana garments in the vivacious colors of traditional Sicilian “carretti”, in 2018 at the exhibition “Bonaveri—A Fan of Pucci” at Palazzo Pucci in Florence, Bonaveri mannequins were embellished with dresses by the stylist Emilio Pucci. In Milan, in 2019, “Zara & Schläppi 2200” featured female mannequins manufactured in sustainable materials, while in 2021, the exhibition “In America—A Lexicon of Fashion” and “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”, celebrated the American fashion in its various cultures with dresses worn by the Bonaveri mannequins at Met in New York. “Schläppi Aloof female mannequins” by Bonaveri, wear the Olivier Theyskens’ Spring/Summer 2022 collection at Paris Fashion Week.
In the Bonaveri collections there are many models: “Fashion Model Collection” “Schläppi 2200/2300”—men and women mannequins realized in a variety of elegant poses, “Schläppi 6000 Aloof”—women mannequins characterized by expressivity and femminility, they are ideal for high fashion and prêt-à-porter, and the dynamic and youthful collection “Tribe mannequins”. To respect Nature, Bonaveri has also presented the first mannequins produced in BPlast and BPaint, manufactured with bioplastic, using natural colors. Bonaveri Mannequins has its headquarters at Renazzo di Cento, in the province of Ferrara; it has been founded in 1950 by Romano Bonaveri. The first artisanal mannequins and busts in papier mâché often utilized in the dressmaker’s shops, made their debut in 1958 at the Fair Trade in Milan, conquering a larger market. With the economic boom of the sixties, Bonaveri mannequins also became famous on the international market, and with the inauguration of a new establishment, in the seventies, mannequins in plastic with wigs and make-up are produced on the fashion market. In the eighties, Andrea and Guido Bonaveri start to work in the Bonaveri Company, Guido dedicates himself to the production and the realization of new mannequins’ models, while Andrea works for the commercial and communication department. The Euroshop in Dusseldorf is the opportunity to make the Bonaveri Company known in America, where they obtain a great success. In 2000 Bonaveri buys the Swiss brand Schläppi and realizes a rich collection of mannequins with stylized shapes: “Bonaveri Artistic Mannequins” and “Schläppi”. In 2006 the establishment is enlarged to an area of 40.000 square meters. In the building of Renazzo di Cento, which looks out on a green park, there are workers, artisans, and administrative staff in the various sectors: design, photo studio, sculpture, atelier, and make-up.
The book “Mannequins: a history of creativity, fashion, art” edited by Gianluca Bauzano, tells the history of the mannequin and the traditional and creative work of the Bonaveri Company. The book is also illustrated with photos of spectacular window stages of great stores, fashion collections, and exhibitions around the world, where we can also see the work and talent of many people, be they clients, fashion designers, sculptors, collaborators, and many friends. Bonaveri has also acquired the English brand Rootstein, a famous manufacturer of mannequins that represented the cheerful and juvenile fashion of the sixties, manufacturing also realistic mannequins based on famous personages like the model inspired by Twiggy. On the occasion of Euroshop 2020, Bonaveri has presented the restyling of the collection of Twiggy mannequins. Bonaveri mannequins are present in the boutiques of many Italian towns such as Turin at Max Mara, Liu Jo, Marina Rinaldi, Zegna; in Milan at Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Agnona, Woolrich; in Florence at Emilio Pucci, Valentino, Versace.
Bonaveri has also realized a series of mannequin miniatures. “The mannequin is always an artistic interpretation of a figure and the projection is certainly one of the most fascinating aspects of this work. It’s a matter of balance between aesthetics, elegance, and functionality”, says Andrea Bonaveri. “Everybody must be able to enhance the clothes, they’ll go “to wear”, and ensuring the best fit and at the same time a unique style that enhances them. Every mannequin must have the capacity to perform different genres and styles”. Bonaveri mannequins represent the excellence of the Italian heritage, in their work made with passion and art. Innovation, creativity, aesthetics, and quality, characterize the production of Bonaveri mannequins, with their slender, futuristic, elegant silhouettes in the classic beauty of their faces and the elegance of their poses, which stand out in the enchanting world of the fashion.
GALLERY
