When fashion refuses to rush: How Federico Sangalli is turning haute couture into a journey for the senses

In a world that glorifies speed, fast fashion, fast travel, fast everything, Federico Sangalli chose the opposite. Raised in the rarefied air of haute couture, where garments are born in workshops humming with the quiet rhythm of pedal-operated sewing machines, he understood early on that his craft was endangered. But instead of preserving it behind glass like a museum relic, he chose to modernise without losing its soul. Paper, silk, fibre optics, nanotechnology, he experimented fearlessly, marrying innovation with tradition, while keeping the handwork, the noble fabrics, and the artisan’s pride intact. “Garments are forever the future. Slow fashion is sustainable fashion,” Federico says.

Over two decades, his journey has been as much about saving a way of working as it has been about redefining what fashion can mean in today’s cultural and travel narratives. Winning the Italian Chambers of Fashion contest, presenting the world’s first luminescent dress at Milan Design Week, and exhibiting in iconic venues like the Royal Palace of Milan and Palazzo Morando-Fashion Museum were milestones and proof that fashion rooted in authenticity could still command global attention.

For him, creation and travel are inseparable. “Life is a journey and after more than twenty years, I think I have succeeded,” he says, recalling how his atelier mirrors a Renaissance workshop, artisans and designers working side by side, their tools worn smooth by time. Each trip, whether real or imagined, feeds his art, whether it is architecture in Rome, sculpture in Florence, or poetry in Paris. Travel is the very aim of his fashion, to manifest life’s journeys into tangible, wearable art.

When fashion becomes a destination

His belief that fashion can shape tourism is a lived reality. One standout project involved crafting a private fashion show for an American family celebrating their grandmother’s 80th birthday in Italy. The collection drew from regional cultures, and during the event, guests sipped wines from the region, tasted traditional recipes, and breathed in the scents that inspired the fabrics, while watching the models. It was a sensory immersion, a year in the making, and it became a lasting memory for his guests.

Over the years, he’s blended fashion with opera (in collaboration with Teatro alla Scala and the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, among others), dance, and art, always aiming for experiences that surprise and delight far beyond expectations. And for anyone trying to replicate it, he says, “It must be based on a true reality, not a recreated false story. The respect for the customer must always be a priority.”

Fashion’s influence stretches beyond runways; it can set global trends toward responsibility. He believes the industry must fight consumerism that damages both the planet and communities, embracing sustainability and authenticity as non-negotiables. That’s why he encourages tourism SMEs to work with local artisans who embody their region’s uniqueness, turning hospitality into a means of cultural preservation. “The tourism industry has a great responsibility and an opportunity to help small but significant businesses thrive, while giving guests rare experiences they could never find on their own,” Federico says.

Partnerships that matter

His cross-sector collaborations between fashion, hospitality, and heritage tourism are driven by constant dialogue, guest feedback, and a haute couture mindset that every experience should be as bespoke as a custom suit. Platforms like Together in Travel, he says, can amplify this work by telling the authentic ‘Made in Italy’ story in ways that are smart, accessible, and engaging to younger audiences who may not yet appreciate the value of time.

For SMEs wanting to work with fashion houses, his advice is to:

• Communicate openly and consistently.

• Create exclusive, unique experiences, but make them accessible.

• Foster a true sense of community among partners.

Fashion’s next chapter in tourism

He sees wearable tech and smart fabrics as natural extensions of his work, particularly in attracting younger travellers eager to see how tradition and innovation can coexist. But the future of fashion in tourism, he insists, lies in moving away from mass marketing toward entirely guest-focused, bespoke experiences. “Absolute authenticity is what should never be overlooked.”

In the end, his philosophy is as much about respect as it is about design, respect for the craft, for the artisan, for the traveller, and for the cultural heritage that binds them together. In an age of disposable everything, his work asks a simple, radical question that what if the most luxurious thing we could offer was time — time to create, time to connect, time to truly experience?

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