Marco Tomasetta is the man behind the bags and leather accessories at Montblanc. The Italian knows what it takes to turn products into everyday favorites.
FACES: When are you at your most creative?
Marco Tomasetta: I find my inspiration in very different places, but I am most creative when I travel and spend time alone in a hotel, where I can sketch, write and design freely. After such an inspirational break, I return to the studio and bring the creative thoughts to life. I found a lot of my inspiration on my travels or from reading books, movies and music.
F: You worked for Chloé and Louis Vuitton before moving to Montblanc. How do you manage to immerse yourself in such a new universe?
Marco Tomasetta: I’ve been lucky enough to have worked for some great labels. Every single job has been an enriching experience that has shaped my approach and my engagement with design. It is important to push a label forward boldly and fearlessly, respecting the importance and influence of its heritage in order to be innovative and relevant in the market. I delve into the archives and try to understand the origins of the label, its development and its identity.
F: What impression do you want Montblanc leather goods to make on consumers?
Marco Tomasetta: Our leather goods are bold, witty, timeless and functional. In addition to their functionality and design, the pieces must have a real meaning for their owners. For our leather collection, I chose the Meisterstück as a source of inspiration – partly because it is an icon, and partly because it contains design codes that are unique to Montblanc. It was my goal to create new pieces that would be instantly associated with Montblanc, while giving people a fresh look at one of the world’s most recognizable objects.
Of darlings and time slipping through your fingers
F: Do you have a favorite piece from your Montblanc collection?
Marco Tomasetta: When it comes to my own everyday life, the Meisterstück Duffle Bag is my favorite because I like to go on spontaneous trips. It is the perfect companion for a quick getaway. However, I am also very impressed by the innovative modular system of the Meisterstück4810 collection, which makes it possible to create a larger volume from a small one. There are countless variations and fun shapes as well as various bright colors that are completely new for Montblanc.
F: When does time feel infinitely sluggish to you, and in what situations does it literally slip through your fingers?
Marco Tomasetta: Time generally passes far too quickly. When you’re creative, you have to hurry, because there are deadlines and milestones to meet – whether you’re working on sketches, prototypes, procuring materials or production. For someone who loves a fast-paced, active and traveling life, the pandemic situation has been challenging in many ways. It felt like time stood still, but on the other hand, it was also a time that allowed me to take a step back and appreciate the simpler things in life. I was able to let my creativity blossom and actually found inspiration in the completely unexpected.
F: If you could travel back in time, which era would you choose?
Marco Tomasetta: I’m a big fan of classic Italian cinema, which has inspired me to create numerous works. I wouldn’t mind walking through the sets of a film studio and seeing the great masters of film like Visconti or Fellini in action.
Sounds like glamor…
F: Artistic Director sounds like a glamorous job. Is that the case?
Marco Tomasetta: It’s a wonderful job that has many different facets. However, most people only see the events, premieres, interviews and red carpets from the outside. The actual work always takes place in the studio, where I bring my vision to life together with the suppliers and craftspeople. What I absolutely love, for example, is traveling to Florence to find the perfect leather for one of our collections, learning more about sustainability and having open and honest conversations with customers. It’s like everywhere else in life: There are always two sides to a coin!
Q: What inspired you to create “The Library Spirit” campaign?
Marco Tomasetta: Libraries are home to thousands of books and millions of words. The universe of words is also the universe of Montblanc, a Maison that has always championed the power of words by developing tools to capture them on paper. Every city in the world has a library – each with its own special flair. The library is also associated with a certain style, namely that of a modern dandy. With this campaign, I wanted to invite everyone into this world of words and books to be inspired.
It’s the story behind it that counts
F: What makes a good campaign photographer?
Marco Tomasetta: Of course, aesthetic qualities are required in terms of composition, the use of light and depth. For me, however, what makes a good photographer is the ability to tell stories. Especially in a world where we all consume so many videos every day. We are used to a story being told in a few seconds and minutes. The challenge with still images is therefore to get the audience to see the story behind them and allow themselves to be captivated by it.
F: What do you look for when creating a new bag for Montblanc, and how do you go about it?
Marco Tomasetta: It’s important to start with the consumer: Who is she or he, and what characterizes her or his life? This makes me think about what form and function Montblanc should create for these people. For this reason, some of our collections have storage solutions on the inside, others on the outside, and this is how the modularity system came about. Our products must be functional and every design element must make sense. I then set out to find the best leather to bring the vision to life and the colors that complement or enhance the design. And I keep asking myself: What makes it a distinctive Montblanc product? Could any other label do the same? With the new design elements we have created and the way they are made, the answer is simple… no.
Want to see what Marco Tomasetta creates for Montblanc? Take a look at his collections here.
Fancy even more fashionable people? Read the interview with Guess patron Paul Marciano here, or take a look at how the young designers Luca Hasler and Ricardo Ferreira are building up their own label Luca Ferreira here.
Teaser photo: © Montblanc
